Electrodeposition-based rapid bioprinting of 3D-designed hydrogelswith a pin art device

摘要

Three-dimensional (3D) designed hydrogels are receiving considerable attention for use in tissueengineering. Herein, we present a novel method for bioprinting 3D hydrogels by electrodepositionwith a pin art device. The device consists of a metal substrate and an array of electrode pins that canslide independently. To fabricate a 3D-hydrogel, pins are pushed from the rear with a 3D object togenerate a 3D extruded-pin relief of the object; the extruded pins are then inserted into a chitosan/gelatin hydrogel. Due to H+ consumption at these pins, which collectively act as a cathode, theprotonated amino groups of the chitosan become deprotonated, which results in the electrodepositionof the chitosan bound to the gelatin onto the extruded pins. The untreated hydrogel is removed byheating to provide the 3D-designed chitosan/gelatin hydrogel. As a proof of concept, hydrogels ofvarious shapes were fabricated. In addition, cells were successfully cultured in a hydrogel, highlightingits biocompatibility. This method is useful for constructing 3D artificial tissue consisting of hydrogelsand cells.