Hybrid bioink of methyacrylated starch with minimal methacrylated chitosan enables high-precision 3D printing for complex tissue scaffolds
作者：Zhou, X., Wu, S., Liu, P.*, Wang, L.*, & Xie, F.*
關鍵字：3D bioprinting, Biopolymer composites, Starch-chitosan bioink, UV crosslinking, Biodegradable tissue scaffolds, Tissue engineering
論文來源：期刊
具體來源：Carbohydrate Polymers
發表時間：2025年
Starch-based gels represent promising bioinks for 3D-printed cell scaffolds due to their biosafety, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, their widespread adoption has been hindered by inadequate formability and poor self-supporting properties. Here, we introduce an innovative starch-dominated hydrogel system achieved through dual methacrylation of normal corn starch and chitosan, enabling the fabrication of biodegradable cell scaffolds. While methacrylated starch alone (substitution degree: 0.013) exhibited insufficient printing accuracy even with UV assistance, the optimized 10:1 (starch/chitosan, w/w) blend of methacrylated chitosan (substitution degree: 0.27) demonstrated dramatically enhanced 3D printing formability and precision when combined with UV crosslinking. Rheological analysis demonstrated that blending methacrylated starch with methacrylated chitosan reduced flow stress (τf), improving printability while retaining shear-thinning behavior. Incorporation of 10 % glycerol enhanced biomacromolecular compatibility, as evidenced by rheological results and homogenous microstructures in SEM, enabling high-fidelity printing of intricate architectures. UV-cured scaffolds exhibited tunable compressive strength (150–200 kPa) and deformation rate (50–60 %), balancing mechanical compliance with tissue safety. The material''s hydrophilic surface (contact angle: 30–60°) supported robust cell adhesion, while in vitro assays confirmed exceptional biocompatibility (96 % cell viability) and controlled biodegradation in α-amylase/lysozyme solutions. This work establishes starch as a primary matrix for bioinks, advancing sustainable, high-precision 3D printing in biomedicine.