Bioink
This relates to a hydrogel precursor composition and to a bioink obtainable from the hydrogel precursor composition, as well as a method of preparing and using the same. More specifically, This also relates to a bioink that contains a catechol grafted and spontaneously crosslinked hydrogel including cells, and to its use in 3D bioprinting and to a method of preparing the same.
1 . A hydrogel precursor composition for bioink comprising:
i. a first component comprising a hyaluronic acid (HA) component conjugated to
a. plurality of carbohydrazide groups (—CONHNH 2 ) wherein the carbohydrazide groups are conjugated to 5-20% of disaccharide repeat units of the HA component of the first component via linker L1 wherein said linker is —NHNH—, and
b. plurality of catechol groups wherein the catechol group are conjugated to 1-20% of disaccharide repeat units of the HA component of the first component via a linker L2, wherein said linker is —NH(CH 2 ) 2 —;
ii. a second component comprising a hyaluronic acid (HA) component conjugated to plurality of aldehyde groups, wherein the aldehyde groups are conjugated to 5-50% of the disaccharide repeat units of the HA component of the second component via a linker L3, wherein said linker is —NHCH 2 wherein molecular weight of the HA component of first component and the HA component of the second component is 100-300 kDa, and wherein the aldehyde groups are configured to form crosslinks with the carbohydrazide groups; and
iii. a rheological modifier component;
wherein the rheological modifier component comprises
hyaluronic acid with a molecular weight of 1200 kDa-1900 kDa, and
collagen with molecular weight of 250-300 kDa, and
wherein the rheological modifier component comprises 2-50 wt-% from the total weight of the hydrogel precursor composition.
2 . The hydrogel precursor composition of claim 1 , wherein, the rheological modifier component of the hydrogel precursor composition further comprises alginate, chitosan, nanocellulose, polyethylene glycol, poloxamer, polyvinyl alcohol, an extracellular matrix protein, albumin, or mixtures thereof.
3 . The hydrogel precursor composition of claim 1 , wherein the rheological modifier component of the hydrogel precursor composition further comprises human fibronectin with a molecular weight of 440-530 kDa.
4 . The hydrogel precursor composition of claim 1 , wherein the rheological modifier component of the hydrogel precursor composition further comprises laminin, with a molecular weight of 400-900 kDa.
5 . The hydrogel precursor component according to claim 1 , wherein the rheological modifier component further comprises one or more extracellular matrix proteins.
6 . A bioink obtainable by mixing the hydrogel precursor composition according to claim 1 , with a fluid comprising cells.
7 . A method for 3D printing a bioink, the method comprising:
a) producing the bioink by mixing the hydrogel precursor composition according to claim 1 with a fluid comprising cells;
b) allowing the first component of the hydrogel precursor composition to crosslink with the second component of the hydrogel precursor composition in said fluid, and
c) 3D printing the bioink when the viscosity of the bioink is 200-2000 Pa·s.