Page 9 - IJB-9-1

International Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Formulation and evaluation of a bioink
composed of alginate, gelatin, and nanocellulose
for meniscal tissue engineering

Julia Anna Semba , Adam Aron Mieloch , Ewa Tomaszewska , Piotr Cywoniuk ,
3
1
1,2
1
Jakub Dalibor Rybka *
1
1 Center for Advanced Technology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
2 Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland
3 Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Poznan, Poland

Abstract

The necessity to preserve meniscal function prompts the research and develop-
ment of novel treatment options, like three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. However,
bioinks for meniscal 3D bioprinting have not been extensively explored. Therefore,
in this study, a bioink composed of alginate, gelatin, and carboxymethylated cellu-
lose nanocrystal (CCNC) was formulated and evaluated. Firstly, bioinks with varying
concentrations of the aforementioned components were subjected to rheological
analysis (amplitude sweep test, temperature sweep test, and rotation). The optimal
bioink formulation of 4.0% gelatin, 0.75% alginate, and 1.4% CCNC dissolved in 4.6%
D-mannitol was further used for printing accuracy analysis, followed by 3D bioprint-
ing with normal human knee articular chondrocytes (NHAC-kn). The encapsulated
*Corresponding author: cells’ viability was > 98%, and collagen II expression was stimulated by the bioink. The
Jakub Dalibor Rybka
(jrybka@amu.edu.pl) formulated bioink is printable, stable under cell culture conditions, biocompatible,
and able to maintain the native phenotype of chondrocytes. Aside from meniscal
Citation: Semba JA, Mieloch AA,
Tomaszewska E, et al., 2023, tissue bioprinting, it is believed that this bioink could serve as a basis for the devel-
Formulation and evaluation of a opment of bioinks for various tissues.
bioink composed of alginate, gelatin,
and nanocellulose for meniscal
tissue engineering. Int J Bioprint, Keywords: Meniscus; 3D bioprinting; Bioink; Alginate; Gelatin; Carboxymethylated
9(1): 621.
https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v9i1.621 cellulose nanocrystal
Received: June 15, 2022
Accepted: August 05, 2022
Published Online: October 14, 2022
1. Introduction
Copyright: © 2022 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article Meniscal lesions are one of the most common injuries to the human knee, stemming
distributed under the terms of the [1]
Creative Commons Attribution from its biomechanical role as a shock absorber . The clinical results of meniscus repair
License, permitting distribution have direct correlations with the vascularization of the area in which the lesion occurs.
and reproduction in any medium, The vascularized zone has higher regenerative potential in comparison to the avascular
provided the original work is
properly cited. zone. The routine treatment methods include stitching and partial meniscectomy, which
pose a risk of detachment and limitation to joint mobility [2,3] . There is also a risk of
Publisher’s Note: Whioce late-age osteoarthritis with meniscectomy, as it decreases the contact area and increases
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in the contact stress on the articular cartilage. In the case of complex and extensive
published maps and institutional meniscal tears, the treatment options include allograft transplantation; however, tissue
affiliations.

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v9i1.621