3D Bioprinting of Pectin-Cellulose Nanofibers Multicomponent Bioinks

Abstract

Pectin has found extensive interest in biomedical applications, including wound dressing, drug delivery, and cancer targeting. However, the low viscosity of pectin solutions hinders their applications in 3D bioprinting. Here, we developed multicomponent bioinks prepared by combining pectin with TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs) to optimize the inks’ printability while ensuring stability of the printed hydrogels and simultaneously print viable cell-laden inks. First, we screened several combinations of pectin (1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% w/v) and TOCNFs (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% w/v) by testing their rheological properties and printability. Addition of TOCNFs allowed increasing the inks’ viscosity while maintaining shear thinning rheological response, and it allowed us to identify the optimal pectin concentration (2.5% w/v). We then selected the optimal TOCNFs concentration (1% w/v) by evaluating the viability of cells embedded in the ink and eventually optimized the writing speed to be used to print accurate 3D grid structures. Bioinks were prepared by embedding L929 fibroblast cells in the ink printed by optimized printing parameters. The printed scaffolds were stable in a physiological-like environment and characterized by an elastic modulus of E = 1.8 ± 0.2 kPa. Cells loaded in the ink and printed were viable (cell viability >80%) and their metabolic activity increased in time during the in vitro culture, showing the potential use of the developed bioinks for biofabrication and tissue engineering applications.

Natural Hydrogel-Based Bio-Inks for 3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering: A Review

“…Multi-component bio-inks are particularly relevant when employed as hydrogels, since simple hydrogels are typically characterized by poor mechanical properties. The development of such multi-component bio-inks was highlighted in the study of Pitton et al [ 384 ], in which multi-component bio-inks, based on the combination of natural biomaterials of pectin and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs), were prepared as an approach to optimize the printability and stability of cell-laden inks. The study was able to determine that the multi-component bio-ink containing optimal TOCNFs and pectin concentrations of 1% w / v and 2.5% w / v improved viscosity while maintaining shear thinning behavior and cell viability.…”

Three-Dimensional Printing of a Tough Polymer Composite Gel Ink Reinforced with Chemically Modified Cellulose Nanofibrils Showing Self-Healing Behavior

“…Pitton and his research team succeeded in developing a gel ink based on a combination of pectin and nanocellulose fibrils. The viscosity of pectin restricts its suitability for gel printing, but by adding 1% w/v 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils, precise 3D structures were printed . Therefore, the supramolecular nanocomposites would offer significantly better mechanical properties than just the matrix.…”

Cellulose Nanofibers/Pectin/Pomegranate Extract Nanocomposite as Antibacterial and Antioxidant Films and Coating for Paper

“…While there is no use of pectin from any resources in papermaking so far, its use with CNFs has been reported in alginate scaffolds for biomedical use [ 39 ], to improve water resistance of soybean protein [ 40 ], as a co-carrier to improve water redispersibility of spray-dried CNFs in water [ 41 ], to prepare aerogel with improved mechanical properties [ 42 ], and for the preparation of printing inks [ 43 , 44 ].…”