Publication detail

Engineering Conductive Hydrogels with Tissue-like Properties: A 3D Bioprinting and Enzymatic Polymerization Approach

Li, CB. Naeimipour, S. Boroojeni, FR. Abrahamsson, T. Strakosas, X. Yi, YPQ. Rilemark, R. Lindholm, C. Perla, VK. Musumeci, C. Li, YY. Biesmans, H. Savvakis, M. Olsson, E. Tybrandt, K. Donahue, MJ. Gerasimov, JY. Selegård, R. Berggren, M. Aili, D. Simon, DT

Original Title

Engineering Conductive Hydrogels with Tissue-like Properties: A 3D Bioprinting and Enzymatic Polymerization Approach

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Hydrogels are promising materials for medical devices interfacing with neural tissues due to their similar mechanical properties. Traditional hydrogel-based bio-interfaces lack sufficient electrical conductivity, relying on low ionic conductivity, which limits signal transduction distance. Conducting polymer hydrogels offer enhanced ionic and electronic conductivities and biocompatibility but often face challenges in processability and require aggressive polymerization methods. Herein, we demonstrate in situ enzymatic polymerization of pi-conjugated monomers in a hyaluronan (HA)-based hydrogel bioink to create cell-compatible, electrically conductive hydrogel structures. These structures were fabricated using 3D bioprinting of HA-based bioinks loaded with conjugated monomers, followed by enzymatic polymerization via horseradish peroxidase. This process increased the hydrogels' stiffness from about 0.6 to 1.5 kPa and modified their electroactivity. The components and polymerization process were well-tolerated by human primary dermal fibroblasts and PC12 cells. This work presents a novel method to fabricate cytocompatible and conductive hydrogels suitable for bioprinting. These hybrid materials combine tissue-like mechanical properties with mixed ionic and electronic conductivity, providing new ways to use electricity to influence cell behavior in a native-like microenvironment. This study introduces a novel method to enhance hydrogel conductivity and biocompatibility for biomedical applications. By using in situ enzymatic polymerization of pi-conjugated monomers within a hyaluronan-based hydrogel bioink, followed by 3D bioprinting, the resulting hydrogels exhibit improved stiffness, electroactivity, and cytocompatibility. These conductive hydrogels provide a versatile platform for advanced 3D cell culture and neural engineering.image (c) 2024 WILEY-VCH GmbH

Keywords

3D printing; cell scaffold; conducting polymer; in vitro; polymerization

Authors

Li, CB.; Naeimipour, S.; Boroojeni, FR.; Abrahamsson, T.; Strakosas, X.; Yi, YPQ.; Rilemark, R.; Lindholm, C.; Perla, VK.; Musumeci, C.; Li, YY.; Biesmans, H.; Savvakis, M.; Olsson, E.; Tybrandt, K.; Donahue, MJ.; Gerasimov, JY.; Selegård, R.; Berggren, M.; Aili, D.; Simon, DT

Released

1. 11. 2024

Publisher

WILEY

Location

HOBOKEN

ISBN

2688-4046

Periodical

SMALL SCIENCE

Year of study

4

Number

11

State

United States of America

Pages from

1

Pages to

12

Pages count

12

URL

Full text in the Digital Library

BibTex

@article{BUT189712,
  author="Changbai {Li} and Sajjad {Naeimipour} and Fatemeh {Rasti Boroojeni} and Tobias {Abrahamsson} and Xenofon {Strakosas} and Yangpeiqi {Yi} and Rebecka {Rilemark} and Caroline {Lindholm} and Venkata K. {Perla} and Chiara {Musumeci} and Yuyang {Li} and Hanne {Biesmans} and Marios {Savvakis} and Eva {Olsson} and Klas {Tybrandt} and Mary {Donahue} and Jennifer Y. {Gerasimov} and Robert {Selegård} and Magnus {Berggren} and Daniel {Aili} and Daniel T. {Simon}",
  title="Engineering Conductive Hydrogels with Tissue-like Properties: A 3D Bioprinting and Enzymatic Polymerization Approach",
  journal="SMALL SCIENCE",
  year="2024",
  volume="4",
  number="11",
  pages="12",
  doi="10.1002/smsc.202400290",
  issn="2688-4046",
  url="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smsc.202400290"
}