Self-healing, Bio-inspired Hydrogel Platform for Next Generation 3D Bioprinting
Research and development of a bio-inspired, self-healing biomaterial ink for 3D bioprinting
The overall aim of this project is to develop a self-healing, bio-inspired and functional hydrogel platform for next-generation 3D bioprinting. The project is inspired by supramolecular, biochemical interactions that occur in nature in various roles and also in tissues. By transferring biological principles based on the model of self-regulating natural tissue, the HEAL-X Bioink project aims to achieve self-healing gel properties, cell adhesion, directed cell interaction and organization as well as temporally and spatially resolved release of active substances in a mechanically stable bioink.
From biological model to technical concept: In 3D bioprinting, hydrogels are mixed with living cells to form bioink and printed in layers to create a defined 3D structure. The tissue structures created in this way are becoming increasingly complex and functional, but are still a long way from their natural counterparts. There are still major challenges, for example to avoid damaging sensitive cells during the printing process or to make the printing as precise and repeatable as possible. It is also problematic to supply the printed cells with nutrients over the period required for maturation and differentiation and to maintain their viability. This calls for materials that replicate the natural environment of biological cells as closely as possible and support the maturation of the tissue.
Implementation potential and sustainability effects. The hydrogels developed serve as a modular and customizable platform for 3D bioprinting of cells and drug testing systems. Systems based on this can also be used in the future to model disease patterns and for in vivo implantation by direct injection. In this way, the project aims to make significant contributions to the further development of bioprinting and thus strengthen the pharmaceutical and medical technology sector in Germany as a whole.
In order to successfully address these multifaceted tasks, we are collaborating with project partners from the NMI and TUDA as well as industrial collaborators in this 3-year industrial cooperation project funded by the BMBF. Our group is working on the sub-project “Synthesis of mammalian cell-compatible hydrogels for 3D printing” and is focusing in the development and research (design, synthesis, characterization) of hydrogels and their components such as backbone and crosslinker as well as components for material/cell interaction, and finally their combination to functional, self-healing and printable hydrogels as HEAL-X Bioink