Page 458 - IJB-9-6

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Evaluation of a synthetic peptide-based bioink

(PeptiInk Alpha 1) for in vitro 3D bioprinting of
cartilage tissue models

Patricia Santos-Beato , Andrew A. Pitsillides , Alberto Saiani , Aline Miller ,
1
2
4
3
Ryo Torii , and Deepak M. Kalaskar *
5
6
1 Biochemical Engineering Department, University College London, London, United Kingdom
2 Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
3 Division of Pharmacy & Optometry & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of
Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
4 Department of Chemical Engineering & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of
Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
5 Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
6 Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, Division of Surgery & Interventional
Science, University College London (UCL), London, United Kingdom
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Advances in bioprinting technology)

Abstract

Cartilage pathology in human disease is poorly understood and requires further
research. Various attempts have been made to study cartilage pathologies using in vitro
human cartilage models as an alternative for preclinical research. Three-dimensional
(3D) bioprinting is a technique that has been used to 3D-bioprint cartilage tissue models
in vitro using animal-derived materials such as gelatine or hyaluronan, which present
*Corresponding author:
Deepak M. Kalaskar challenges in terms of scalability, reproducibility, and ethical concerns. We present an
(d.kalaskar@ucl.ac.uk) assessment of synthetic self-assembling peptides as bioinks for bioprinted human
Citation: Santos-Beato P, in vitro cartilage models. Primary human chondrocytes were mixed with PeptiInk Alpha
Pitsillides AA, Saiani A, et al., 2023, 1, 3D-bioprinted and cultured for 14 days, and compared with 3D chondrocyte pellet
Evaluation of a synthetic peptide- controls. Cell viability was assessed through LIVE/DEAD assays and DNA quantification.
based bioink (PeptiInk Alpha 1) for
in vitro 3D bioprinting of cartilage High cell viability was observed in the PeptiInk culture, while a fast decrease in DNA
tissue models. Int J Bioprint, levels was observed in the 3D pellet control. Histological evaluation using hematoxylin
9(6): 0899. and eosin staining and immunofluorescence labeling for SOX-9, collagen type II, and
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.0899
aggrecan showed a homogeneous cell distribution in the 3D-bioprinted PeptiInks as
Received: May 4, 2023 well as high expression of chondrogenic markers in both control and PeptiInk cultures.
Accepted: June 27, 2023 mRNA expression levels assessed by - qRT-PCR (quantitative real time-polymerase chain
Published Online: September 6,
2023 reaction) confirmed chondrogenic cell behavior. These data showed promise in the
potential use of PeptiInk Alpha 1 as a bioprintable manufacturing material for human
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article cartilage in vitro models.
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, Keywords: 3D bioprinting; Self-assembling peptides; Bioinks; Cartilage; In vitro
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience 1. Introduction
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in The treatment of cartilage pathologies remains a challenge in the field of orthopedic
published maps and institutional
affiliations. medicine. Diseases such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or post-traumatic

Volume 9 Issue 6 (2023) 450 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.0899