Page 454 - v11i4

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
3D printing of the keloid scar using tunable

GelMA-based bioinks for skin fibrosis modeling

Laurensia Danis Anggradita 1,2† id , Murugaiyan Manimohan 3† id , Sung Sik Hur 1† id ,
Taekyun Kim 1,2 id , Wonjong Seon 1,2 id , Mohamed Aboobucker Sithique 3 id ,
Seung Min Nam * , and Yongsung Hwang *
4 id
1,2 id
1 Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science
(SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Chungnam 31151, Republic of Korea
2 Department of Integrated Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Chungnam
31151, Republic of Korea
3
PG & Research Department of Chemistry, Islamiah College, Thiruvalluvar University, Vaniyambadi,
Tamil Nadu 635752, India.
4 Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of
Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Gyeonggi 14584, Republic of
Korea
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Intelligent 3D Bioprinting Strategies for Future Regenerative Medicine)

† These authors contributed equally Abstract
to this work.
*Corresponding authors: The development of mechanically tunable and cytocompatible hydrogels is
Seung Min Nam critical for advancing three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting in tissue engineering.
(zodiac1003@schmc.ac.kr) Here, we report a composite bioink composed of gelatin methacrylate (GelMA),
Yongsung Hwang methylcellulose, sodium alginate, and laponite-RDS. This formulation supports
(yshwang0428@sch.ac.kr)
extrusion-based printing without ionic crosslinkers, mimics the extracellular matrix
Citation: Anggradita LD, (ECM), and maintains stable viscoelasticity under physiological conditions (37°C,
Manimohan M, Hur SS, et al.
3D printing of the keloid scar pH 7.4). Electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions among the charged
using tunable GelMA-based polymers enhance pre-gel viscosity, shear-thinning behavior, and print fidelity. To
bioinks for skin fibrosis modeling. evaluate its potential in disease modeling, patient-derived keloid fibroblasts were
Int J Bioprint. 2025;11(4):446-461.
doi: 10.36922/IJB025160154 encapsulated in 3D-bioprinted constructs using two GelMA-based formulations
with different stiffness levels, such as soft (G4A1M1R1, 2.1 kPa) and stiff (G5A1M1R1,
Received: April 19, 2025 7.9 kPa), chosen to replicate the mechanical properties of normal dermis and keloid
1st revised: July 8, 2025
2nd revised: July 23, 2025 tissue, respectively. Both constructs exhibited excellent cell viability after three days,
Accepted: July 23, 2025 confirming cytocompatibility. Furthermore, matrix stiffness significantly regulated
Published Online: July 23, 2025
fibrotic gene expression. The stiffer hydrogel induced higher expression of COL1,
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). MMP2, and IL6, suggesting enhanced myofibroblast activation and ECM remodeling.
This is an Open Access article Immunofluorescence staining further confirmed elevated protein levels of α-SMA,
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution FSP1, and actin stress fibers (F-actin) in the stiff construct, consistent with keloid
License, permitting distribution, pathology. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the GelMA-based bioink
and reproduction in any medium, enables stiffness-dependent modulation of fibrotic responses, offering a simplified
provided the original work is
properly cited. yet relevant 3D model of fibrotic skin. This platform may provide a useful basis for
future studies on keloid progression and preliminary antifibrotic drug screening.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Keywords: Bioinks; Bioprinting; Keloid; Shape fidelity; Skin fibrosis;
affiliations. Viscoelastic properties

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 446 doi: 10.36922/IJB025160154