Abstract

3D Bioprinting of GelMA Scaffolds Triggers Mineral Deposition by Primary Human Osteoblasts

Christine McBeth, Research Scientist, Fraunhofer CMI at Boston University

We have developed a 3D rapid prototyping system capable of multimaterial deposition to enable the next-generation of “bottom-up” tissue engineering. We have previously demonstrated the utility of our bioprinter by printing viable encapsulated cells in a vascular construct model (1). We are currently developing an osseoinductive coating for titanium implants and have bioprinted and grafted GelMA scaffolds directly onto titanium implants (2). We have shown that this osseoinductive coating triggers new mineral deposition by both MG63 osteoblast cell lines and normal human primary osteoblasts. In collaboration with Fraunhofer IGB and Fraunhofer IAP, we have further generated novel hybrid bioinks based on an acetylated derivative of GelMA that substantially improves the rheological properties for bioprinting. This bioink, GM2A8 is blended with a hydroxyapatite suspension that can be quickly printed into osseoinductive scaffolds and is compatible with osteoblasts.