TY - JOUR
T1 - Digital light processing 3D printing of dual crosslinked meniscal scaffolds with enhanced physical and biological properties
AU - Menon, Abhay
AU - Elkhoury, Kamil
AU - Zahraa, Amer
AU - Sapudom, Jiranuwat
AU - Rahic, Zerina
AU - Gunsalus, Kristin
AU - Teo, Jeremy
AU - Gupta, Nikhil
AU - Vijayavenkataraman, Sanjairaj
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2025/2
Y1 - 2025/2
N2 - Regenerating damaged meniscal tissue remains a significant challenge due to the meniscus’ limited capacity for self-repair. Photocrosslinkable hydrogels, like gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), offer a promising solution for meniscal regeneration by providing structural flexibility to accommodate the meniscus’ complex geometry while enabling the incorporation of bioactive molecules and cells. However, GelMA alone often lacks the mechanical robustness required for load-bearing applications. In this study, we introduce a dual-crosslinked GelMA scaffold, enhanced with tannic acid (TA), designed to replicate the mechanical properties of the native meniscus. By adjusting TA concentrations, we successfully fine-tuned the scaffold’s compressive modulus to match that of human meniscal tissue. This dual crosslinking not only improved mechanical strength but also resulted in a denser matrix with smaller pore sizes and reduced degradation and swelling rates. The optimized GelMA-TA formulation was 3D-printed into complex shapes, demonstrating its potential for producing patient-specific scaffolds. Beyond its mechanical benefits, the GelMA-TA scaffold exhibited excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Human mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto the scaffold showed high viability, increased proliferation, and successful chondrogenic differentiation. Additionally, the GelMA-TA scaffold acted as an immunomodulatory biomaterial, suppressing pro-inflammatory responses in monocytes while promoting an anti-inflammatory, pro-regenerative M2a macrophage phenotype. These findings suggest that the GelMA-TA scaffold holds strong potential as a viable solution for meniscal tissue repair, offering both structural integrity and enhanced biological functionality.
AB - Regenerating damaged meniscal tissue remains a significant challenge due to the meniscus’ limited capacity for self-repair. Photocrosslinkable hydrogels, like gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), offer a promising solution for meniscal regeneration by providing structural flexibility to accommodate the meniscus’ complex geometry while enabling the incorporation of bioactive molecules and cells. However, GelMA alone often lacks the mechanical robustness required for load-bearing applications. In this study, we introduce a dual-crosslinked GelMA scaffold, enhanced with tannic acid (TA), designed to replicate the mechanical properties of the native meniscus. By adjusting TA concentrations, we successfully fine-tuned the scaffold’s compressive modulus to match that of human meniscal tissue. This dual crosslinking not only improved mechanical strength but also resulted in a denser matrix with smaller pore sizes and reduced degradation and swelling rates. The optimized GelMA-TA formulation was 3D-printed into complex shapes, demonstrating its potential for producing patient-specific scaffolds. Beyond its mechanical benefits, the GelMA-TA scaffold exhibited excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Human mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto the scaffold showed high viability, increased proliferation, and successful chondrogenic differentiation. Additionally, the GelMA-TA scaffold acted as an immunomodulatory biomaterial, suppressing pro-inflammatory responses in monocytes while promoting an anti-inflammatory, pro-regenerative M2a macrophage phenotype. These findings suggest that the GelMA-TA scaffold holds strong potential as a viable solution for meniscal tissue repair, offering both structural integrity and enhanced biological functionality.
KW - Bioprinting
KW - Chondrogenic differentiation
KW - GelMA
KW - Immunomodulation
KW - Meniscus
KW - Tissue engineering
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85213574127&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85213574127&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s42114-024-01196-8
DO - 10.1007/s42114-024-01196-8
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85213574127
SN - 2522-0128
VL - 8
JO - Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
JF - Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials
IS - 1
M1 - 92
ER -