Page 430 - IJB-9-3

International Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Performance of hybrid gelatin-PVA bioinks

integrated with genipin through extrusion-
based 3D bioprinting: An in vitro evaluation

using human dermal fibroblasts

2
1
1
Syafira Masri , Manira Maarof , Izhar Abd Aziz , Ruszymah Idrus ,
1
1
Mh Busra Fauzi *
1 Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti
Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
2 3D Gens Sdn Bhd, 18, Jalan Kerawang U8/108, Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam 40150, Malaysia
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: 3D Printing in tissue engineering)

Abstract
3D bioprinting technology is a well-established and promising advanced fabrication
technique that utilizes potential biomaterials as bioinks to replace lost skin and
promote new tissue regeneration. Cutaneous regenerative biomaterials are highly
commended since they benefit patients with larger wound sizes and irregular wound
shapes compared to the painstaking split-skin graft. This study aimed to fabricate
biocompatible, biodegradable, and printable bioinks as a cutaneous substitute that
leads to newly formed tissue post-transplantation. Briefly, gelatin (GE) and polyvinyl
*Corresponding author:
Mh Busra Fauzi alcohol (PVA) bioinks were prepared in various concentrations (w/v); GE (6% GE:
(fauzibusra@ukm.edu.my) 0% PVA), GPVA3 (6% GE: 3% PVA), and GPVA5 (6% GE: 5% PVA), followed by 0.1%
Citation: Masri S, Maarof M, (w/v) genipin (GNP) crosslinking to achieve optimum printability. According to the
Aziz IA, et al., 2023, Performance of results, GPVA5_GNP significantly presented at least 590.93 ± 164.7% of swelling ratio
hybrid gelatin-PVA bioinks integrated capacity and optimal water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), which is <1500 g/m /h to
2
with genipin through extrusion-based
3D bioprinting: An in vitro evaluation maintain the moisture of the wound microenvironment. Besides, GPVA5_GNP is also
using human dermal fibroblasts. Int J more durable than other hydrogels with the slowest biodegradation rate of 0.018 ±
Bioprint, 9(3): 677. 0.08 mg/h. The increasing amount of PVA improved the rheological properties of the
https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.677 hydrogels, leading the GPVA5_GNP to have the highest viscosity, around 3.0 ± 0.06
Received: September 8, 2022 Pa.s. It allows a better performance of bioinks printability via extrusion technique.
Accepted: December 2, 2022 Moreover, the cross-section of the microstructure hydrogels showed the average
pore sizes >100 µm with excellent interconnected porosity. X-ray diffraction (XRD)
Published Online: February 7, 2023 analysis showed that the hydrogels maintain their amorphous properties and were
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). well-distributed through energy dispersive X-ray after crosslinking. Furthermore,
This is an Open Access article there had no substantial functional group changes, as observed by Fourier transform
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution infrared spectroscopy, after the addition of crosslinker. In addition, GPVA hydrogels
License, permitting distribution, were biocompatible to the cells, effectively demonstrating >90% of cell viability. In
and reproduction in any medium, conclusion, GPVA hydrogels crosslinked with GNP, as prospective bioinks, exhibited
provided the original work is
properly cited. the superior properties necessary for wound healing treatment.
Publisher’s Note: Whioce
Publishing remains neutral with Keywords: 3D bioprinting; Wound healing; Tissue engineering; Bioinks; Gelatin; Polyvinyl
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional alcohol; Genipin
affiliations.

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2023) 422 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.677