Page 524 - IJB-10-6

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Fabrication of bacteriorhodopsin-embedded

hydrogel construct for biocompatible
photosensitive device

Mian Wu 1,2,3 id , Feng Lin 1,2,3 id , and Yu Song 1,2,3 id
*
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
2 Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, China
3 Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials Processing Technology of Ministry of Education, Beijing,
China

Abstract
Bacteriorhodopsin (br) is a promising photosensitive material with applications
in energy conversion, biosensors, and optoelectronic devices due to its bio-
sourced origin and photoelectrical properties. Despite advancements in recent
years, the integration of br-based devices necessitates the use of materials with
little biocompatibility and fabrication techniques with restricted customizability,
limiting potential applications such as optocontrol of cell behavior, implants with 3D
patterning for retinal disease treatment, and light-sensitive cell robots. To solve this
limitation, this study presents a novel approach by embedding br into a hydrogel
matrix. It utilizes an extrusion-based and 3D bioprinting technique, showcasing its
*Corresponding author: light-sensitive characteristics within a fully biocompatible construct. The hydrogel,
Yu Song comprising gelatin and sodium alginate, offers excellent printability for generating
(y-song@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn) structured designs with versatile patterns. Photoelectrical properties of the fabricated
Citation: Wu M, Lin F, Song Y. br-embedded hydrogel construct, such as differential response, light intensity
Fabrication of bacteriorhodopsin- sensitivity, and br concentration sensitivity, are identified through electrochemical
embedded hydrogel construct characterization. The temporal and spatial pattern recognition ability, based on the
for biocompatible
photosensitive device. photoelectrical characteristics, is demonstrated through modulated light illumination
Int J Bioprint. 2024;10(6):4454. and different patterns of printed hydrogel construct. Pattern recognition ability was
doi: 10.36922/ijb.4454 then applied to reconstruct images containing different Latin letters. This research
Received: August 6, 2024 presents a novel method for the fabrication of patterned hydrogel constructs with
Revised: September 11, 2024 high biocompatibility and distinctive light-responsive properties, expanding the
Accepted: September 24, 2024
Published Online: September 25, potential applications of br in bio-related scenarios.
2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). Keywords: Bacteriorhodopsin; Hydrogel construct; Photoelectrical response;
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the Pattern recognition
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited. 1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience Devices fabricated from biomaterials offer significant advantages in terms of
Publishing remains neutral with biocompatibility, low toxicity, and minimal environmental impact. An effective
1,2
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional strategy for developing biomaterial-based devices involves integrating functional
4
3
5
affiliations. proteins, including photosensitive, thermosensitive, and pressure-sensitive. proteins.
Volume 10 Issue 6 (2024) 516 doi: 10.36922/ijb.4454