Page 184 - IJB-10-1

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Nanoclay-reinforced alginate/salecan composite

inks for 3D printing applications

Raluca Ianchis , Maria Minodora Marin *, Rebeca Leu Alexa *,
2,3
1
2
Ioana Catalina Gifu , Elvira Alexandrescu , Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru 4,5,6 ,
1
1
George Mihail Vlasceanu , George Mihail Teodorescu , Andrada Serafim ,
1
2
2
Silviu Preda , Cristina Lavinia Nistor , and Cristian Petcu 1
7
1
1 National Research & Development Institute for Chemistry and Petrochemistry, ICECHIM, Spl.
Independentei No. 202, 6th District, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
2 Advanced Polymer Materials Group, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 1-7 Polizu Street, 011061
Bucharest, Romania
3
Collagen Department, Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93 Ion Minulescu Street, 031215
Bucharest, Romania
4 eBio-hub Research Center, University Politehnica of Bucharest - CAMPUS, 6 Iuliu Maniu Boulevard,
061344 Bucharest, Romania
5 Research Institute of University of Bucharest (ICUB), University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
6 Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
7 Institute of Physical Chemistry “Ilie Murgulescu”, Romanian Academy, Spl. Independentei 202, 6th
District, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Abstract
*Corresponding authors:
Maria Minodora Marin The main objective of the present work was to produce three-dimensional (3D)-
(maria_minodora.marin@upb.ro) printable nanocomposite hydrogels based on two kinds of marine-sourced
Rebeca Leu Alexa polysaccharides doped with nanoclay with potential biomedical application. First
(rebeca.leu@upb.ro)
part of the research study investigated the preparation of the polysaccharide
Citation: Ianchis R, Marin MM, bicomponent hydrogel formulations followed by the selection of the optimal ratio
Alexa RL, et al. Nanoclay-reinforced of polysaccharides concentrations which ensured proper morphostructural stability
alginate/salecan composite inks
for 3D printing applications. Int J of the 3D-printed constructs. Second step aimed to generate 3D scaffolds with high
Bioprint. 2024;10(1):0967. printing fidelity by modulating the nanoclay amount doped within the previously
doi: 10.36922/ijb.0967 selected biopolymer ink. In compliance with the additive manufacturing experiments,
Received: May 20, 2023 the alginate–salecan hydrogels enriched with the highest nanofiller concentrations
Accepted: June 27, 2023 demonstrated the highest suitability for 3D printing process. The morphological
Published Online: July 27, 2023
and structural studies confirmed the ability of the nanocomposite formulations
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). to efficiently produce porous 3D-printed constructs with improved fidelity. The
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the morphostructural findings underlined the implication of choosing the appropriate
Creative Commons Attribution ratio between components, as they have a considerable impact on the functionality
License, permitting distribution, of printing formulations and subsequent 3D-printed structures. Hence, from the
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is obtained results, these novel hydrogel nanocomposites inks are considered valuable
properly cited. biomaterials with suitable features for applications in the additive manufacturing of
3D structures with precise shape for customized regenerative therapy.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Keywords: Alginate; Salecan; Hydrogel; Nanocomposites; 3D printing
affiliations.

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 176 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.0967