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International Journal of Bioprinting Collagen hydrolysate-loaded ODMA/PEGDMA scaffold

scaffolds excel in both mechanical properties, crucial for bearing physiological loads, and biological properties that
promote cell growth and proliferation. This dual enhancement underscores their superior performance and positions
them as frontrunners in the development of advanced solutions for cartilage engineering, potentially revolutionizing
medical treatments.

Keywords: 3D-printed scaffold; Dopamine methacrylate oligomer; Collagen hydrolysate; Digital light processing
3D printer; Cartilage tissue engineering

1. Introduction technology. The combination of these materials was chosen
based on their potential synergistic benefits for cartilage
Cartilage regeneration is of great importance in regenerative regeneration. ODMA contributes exceptional flexible
medicine because cartilage lacks blood vessels, nerves, mechanical and adhesive properties, ensuring stable cell
and a lymphatic system, unlike other tissues in the body, attachment, which is crucial for supporting chondrocyte
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resulting in a severely limited ability to repair itself when growth and extracellular matrix production. PEGDMA
damaged. Consequently, injuries to cartilage tissue heal enhances the scaffold’s mechanical properties 11,12 and
1
slowly compared to other tissues, often leading to chronic 13
pain and mobility issues for patients. Conditions, like hydrophilicity, providing a stable and biocompatible
2
osteoarthritis, unintentional injuries, or aging-related wear environment for cell proliferation and tissue formation.
and tear, frequently cause damage. Traditional treatments The incorporation of CH, rich in amino acids and
usually involve pain management or joint replacement peptides, closely resembles the natural extracellular matrix
14,15
arthroplasty, which differs from cartilage restoration of cartilage, promoting cellular activities essential for
3
techniques that aim to restore the natural function tissue regeneration. The DLP printing process enables
16–18
of a joint by grafting or repairing damaged cartilage. the creation of complex and accurate 3D structures,
Various treatment techniques have been developed for allowing for the simulation of the intricate architecture
cartilage restoration, such as cartilage transplantation of cartilage tissue. This study stands out from previous
from another person (allograft) and autologous cartilage research by combining these specific materials and
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transplantation (autograft), microfracture, autologous utilizing DLP printing technology to create a scaffold that
6
5
chondrocyte implantation (ACI), and matrix-associated more accurately mimics the natural cartilage environment,
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autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI). However, potentially leading to improved cartilage regeneration
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these cartilage treatment techniques are highly invasive outcomes. The thorough examination of the scaffold’s
and require a considerable amount of time for treatment. physical, chemical, and biological properties, as well as its
Furthermore, if the injured area cannot withstand the ability to support chondrocyte viability and proliferation,
load applied during the healing process, this may result demonstrates this novel biomaterial’s potential impact
in additional or chronic injuries. Therefore, tissue on cartilage tissue engineering. The results of this study
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engineering approaches have been explored to develop will pave the way for further in vivo testing and clinical
various scaffolds suitable for cartilage regeneration. studies of this novel biomaterial composite, contributing
to the advancement of regenerative medicine and offering
Recent advances in the field of cartilage tissue new possibilities for the treatment of cartilage defects
engineering have focused on developing biomaterials that and injuries.
mimic the mechanical and biochemical environment of
natural cartilage. This approach offers several advantages, 2. Materials and methods
including improved cell attachment, proliferation, and
differentiation, as well as enhanced tissue formation 2.1. Materials and equipment
and integration with surrounding tissues. Moreover, it Pure distilled water was obtained from MAY (Thailand).
provides better mechanical support and load-bearing Sodium borate was supplied by KemAus (Australia).
capabilities, more closely resembling the function of native Sodium bicarbonate, dopamine hydrochloride,
cartilage. This study introduces a novel composite scaffold methacrylic anhydride, sodium hydroxide, methanol
composed of an oligomer of dopamine methacrylate deuterate, tris-hydrochloric acid, polyethylene glycol
(ODMA), polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA), dimethacrylate Mn 750 (PEGDMA), and lithium phenyl
and collagen hydrolysate (CH) from tuna tendon, (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphinate (LAP) photoinitiator
manufactured using digital light processing (DLP) printing were all procured from Sigma-Aldrich (Germany).

Volume 10 Issue 6 (2024) 339 doi: 10.36922/ijb.4385