Three-dimensional
(3D) bioprinting is a technology under active
study for use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Bioink
comprises cells and polymers and is the essential material for 3D
bioprinting. The characteristics of the bioink affect its printability,
gelation behavior, and cell compatibility. In this study, alginate
derivatives were synthesized to induce rapid gelation, and a bioink
was prepared by mixing these alginate derivatives with silk fibroin
to enhance cell compatibility. A low-concentration (3 wt %) alginate/silk
fibroin (Alg/SF) bioink was pregelated by the ionic cross-linking
of Alg to increase the viscosity for 3D printing. The rheological
and mechanical properties were analyzed using a rheometer and a texture
meter, respectively. Analysis of cell viability and proliferation
using fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) in the bioinks showed that the Alg/SF
bioink has improved cytocompatibility compared to that of conventional
Alg bioinks, making it a promising material for tissue engineering.
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