Page 550 - IJB-10-5

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Methacrylic anhydride-assisted one-step in situ

extrusion 3D bioprinting of collagen hydrogels
for enhanced full-thickness skin regeneration

Xiaxia Yang 1,2 id , Linyan Yao 1,2 id , Wenhua Li 1,2 id , Xiaodi Huang , Na Li ,
1,2
1,2
and Jianxi Xiao *
1,2 id
1 State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
2 Gansu Engineering Research Center of Medical Collagen, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

Abstract
Full-thickness skin injuries cause extended inflammation, compromised
angiogenesis, and protracted wound healing, presenting considerable health risks.
Herein, we introduce an innovative technique utilizing methacrylic anhydride
(MA)-enhanced, one-step in situ extrusion 3D bioprinting of collagen hydrogels,
specifically engineered for the effective repair of full-thickness skin injuries.
This method capitalizes on the inherent bioactivity of collagen, surmounting its
mechanical constraints via a streamlined, one-step extrusion process enabled by MA.
The resultant biomaterial ink, an optimized mix of collagen, MA, and photoinitiator,
demonstrates superior printability, mechanical robustness, and stability, making it
an ideal candidate for direct application to wound sites. The bioprinted collagen
*Corresponding author: scaffolds exhibit improved mechanical strength, reduced swelling, and enhanced
Jianxi Xiao (xiaojx@lzu.edu.cn) resistance to enzymatic degradation, providing a durable matrix for cell proliferation
Citation: Yang X, Yao L, Li W, and tissue in-growth. In vitro assessments reveal that the scaffolds support human
Huang X, Li N, Xiao J. Methacrylic foreskin fibroblast adhesion, proliferation, and migration, creating a conducive
anhydride-assisted one-step in situ
extrusion 3D bioprinting of collagen environment for skin regeneration. In vivo evaluations, conducted using a rat full-
hydrogels for enhanced full- thickness skin injury model, further validate the scaffold’s efficacy in promoting
thickness skin regeneration. rapid and orderly tissue repair, characterized by accelerated re-epithelialization and
Int J Bioprint. 2024;10(5):4069.
doi: 10.36922/ijb.4069 organized collagen deposition. This MA-enhanced, in situ extrusion 3D bioprinting
technique generates collagen hydrogel scaffolds that significantly accelerate
Received: June 28, 2024 wound healing, offering promising advancements in tissue engineering and
Revised: August 5, 2024
Accepted: August 7, 2024 regenerative medicine.
Published Online: August 9, 2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). Keywords: Collagen; Extrusion 3D bioprinting; Full-thickness skin regeneration
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, 1. Introduction
provided the original work is
properly cited. The skin, as the body’s primary protective barrier and largest organ, is highly susceptible
1–4
Publisher’s Note: AccScience to external damage. Full-thickness skin injuries are particularly vulnerable to
Publishing remains neutral with infections from environmental bacteria, leading to prolonged inflammatory responses,
regard to jurisdictional claims in
5,6
published maps and institutional diminished angiogenesis, and delayed wound healing. Existing approaches, such
affiliations. as autologous and allogeneic transplantation, seek to improve wound healing, but

Volume 10 Issue 5 (2024) 542 doi: 10.36922/ijb.4069