3D printed, mechanically tunable, composite sodium alginate, gelatin and Gum Arabic (SA-GEL-GA) scaffolds

Biomimicking the mechanical properties of native tissues is one key requirements engineering tissue scaffolds, rendering a need for materials and manufacturing processes with high level control over such scaffolds. To address this need, we present 3D printable, composite hydrogel consisting sodium alginate (SA), gelatin (GEL) gum Arabic (GA), referred to herein as SA-GEL-GA hydrogel, which can be controlled through tuning its cross-linking process. Here, aqueous solution three constituents used bioink print porous scaffolds in temperature-controlled extrusion-based printing 3D-printed are then crosslinked multi-step approach, realizing gelation GEL, ionic crosslinking SA GA, covalent all components. show that inherent hydrogels duration step. bioinks exhibit highly temperature-dependent rheology elastic solid-like behavior below room temperature viscoplastic, shear thinning nature above 28 ​°C. Using cooled build-plate heated printhead, resolution were printed filament diameter 250 ​μm extruded from 100 nozzle. The compressive modulus these tuned 50–250 ​kPa range combined effect scaffold pores size step duration. carry 500% their dry weight water dried reswollen 400% weight. Finally, our degradation analysis showed increased led reduced long-term structural stability due failure These results indicate offer exciting opportunities customizable artificial biomimicking properties, particularly soft tissues.