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International Journal of Bioprinting Supramolecular hydrogels as bioinks

Figure 2. Schematic representation of dynamic interactions of host–guest chemistry and formation of supramolecular host–guest polymer networks.

functional nanostructures expands their potential in drug chitosan (CMCh) supramolecular hydrogel, where
delivery and biomedical applications. 7,23 the concentration of Zn ion played a vital part in fine-
tuning the hydrogel’s characteristics and injectability.
3.2. Rheological properties Increasing the ion concentration effectively strengthened
The distinct rheological characteristics of supramolecular the hydrogel’s mechanical properties at the expense of
hydrogels make them highly appealing for minimally the thixotropic properties. 24,25 Without affecting the
invasive tissue engineering procedures, as they facilitate injectability of the hydrogel, the crosslinker could impart
in situ gelation. The most desirable characteristic of an antibacterial ability to the prepared gel, highlighting
a hydrogel, particularly in applications like stem cell the role of a crosslinker in formulating supramolecular
therapy, bioprinting, and surgery-based regenerative hydrogels. Using a novel non-chemical crosslinking
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treatments, is its injectability. The supramolecular nature process, Xu et al. reported an injectable supramolecular
of hydrogels enables injectability; however, it depends gelatin cell-laden hydrogel based on the host–guest
on several factors other than the gel monomers, such as macromer (HGM) approach that could be efficiently used
the crosslinker. An example is the simple pH-controlled for therapeutic drug delivery and stem cell therapies.
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addition of Zn ion to a crosslinked carboxymethyl Indeed, the supramolecular mechanism of gel formation

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 5 doi: 10.36922/ijb.3223