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International Journal of Bioprinting BNC-reinforced GelMa enhances property of bioprinted cartilage

A

B C D

E F G

Figure 8. 3D bioprinting of ear-shaped cartilage using bacterial nanocellulose (BNC)/gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) bio-ink. (A) 3D-bioprinted ear-
shaped scaffold with BNC/GelMA bio-ink. (B) Ear-shaped scaffold laden with chondrocytes before implantation. (C) Calcein AM/PI staining of the
ear-shaped scaffold. (D) Ear-shaped scaffold immediately after implantation in nude mice. (e) Ear-shaped scaffold after implantation in nude mice after
24 weeks of culture in vivo. (F) Morphology of the ear-shaped scaffold after 24 weeks of culture in vivo. (G) H&E staining, Safranine-O, and Alcian blue
staining of the scaffold after 24 weeks of culture in vivo. Scale bar: 1 mm.

to regenerate auricular cartilage, and the cell viability studies in large animal models are required to verify its
after 3D bioprinting was only 70.9 ± 7.2% [45] . In addition, potential in preclinical applications.
it should be noted that the BNC-containing hydrogel
promoted cell migration, which is an important cellular 4. Conclusions
feature for tissue morphogenesis. The most important A BNC/GelMA composite hydrogel was prepared in this
criterion for testing whether a biomaterial is suitable study. Compared with 10% GelMA, the 0.375% BNC
for tissue engineering is to evaluate tissue regeneration composite hydrogel has superior mechanical properties
in vivo [11] . We implanted the chondrocyte-laden as well as better printability and cell migration ability.
3D-bioprinted scaffolds into nude mice and cultured Auricular cartilage was regenerated in nude mice using
them for 24 weeks in vivo. The results demonstrated chondrocyte-laden BNC/GelMA hydrogel. The cartilage
that the composite hydrogel was beneficial to the GAG tissue regenerated by the hydrogel had higher GAG
secretion in regenerated cartilage, and its biomechanical content and better biomechanical properties. Finally,
properties were significantly enhanced, which was the ear-shaped construct was bioprinted with composite
close to the Young’s modulus of human ear cartilage. hydrogels, and the cartilage tissue was successfully
Moreover, a precise ear-shaped construct was bioprinted, regenerated in vivo. Although the superiority of the
and the cartilage with 3D morphology was regenerated composite hydrogel needs to be further verified in large
successfully in vivo, which further verified the feasibility animal experiments, this study offers insights into using
of applying BNC-reinforced GelMA hydrogels in an alternative material coupled with detailed technical
auricular cartilage tissue engineering. Certainly, future parameters in the construction of precise-shaped cartilage.

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2023) 140 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v9i1.631