Towards optimized tissue regeneration: a new 3D printable bioink of alginate/cellulose hydrogel loaded with thrombocyte concentrate

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2024 Mar 26:12:1363380. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1363380. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Autologous platelet concentrate (APC) are pro-angiogenic and can promote wound healing and tissue repair, also in combination with other biomaterials. However, challenging defect situations remain demanding. 3D bioprinting of an APC based bioink encapsulated in a hydrogel could overcome this limitation with enhanced physio-mechanical interface, growth factor retention/secretion and defect-personalized shape to ultimately enhance regeneration.

Methods: This study used extrusion-based bioprinting to create a novel bioink of alginate/cellulose hydrogel loaded with thrombocyte concentrate. Chemico-physical testing exhibited an amorphous structure characterized by high shape fidelity. Cytotoxicity assay and incubation of human osteogenic sarcoma cells (SaOs2) exposed excellent biocompatibility. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis confirmed pro-angiogenic growth factor release of the printed constructs, and co-incubation with HUVECS displayed proper cell viability and proliferation. Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay explored the pro-angiogenic potential of the prints in vivo. Detailed proteome and secretome analysis revealed a substantial amount and homologous presence of pro-angiogenic proteins in the 3D construct.

Results: This study demonstrated a 3D bioprinting approach to fabricate a novel bioink of alginate/cellulose hydrogel loaded with thrombocyte concentrate with high shape fidelity, biocompatibility, and substantial pro-angiogenic properties.

Conclusion: This approach may be suitable for challenging physiological and anatomical defect situations when translated into clinical use.

Keywords: additive manufacturing; bioprinting; hydrogel; platelet rich fibrin; reconstruction.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study is partly funded by “Funding of RMU (The Rhine-Main universities) networking in innovative projects” to SB. Natarajan Perumal is supported by a grant from the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) (PE 2531/4-1). Caroline Manicam is supported by a DFG grant (MA 8006/1-1).