3D printing in alginic acid bath of in-situ crosslinked collagen composite scaffolds
Open accessAbstract
Bone-tissue regeneration is a growing field, where nanostructured-bioactive materials are designed to replicate the natural properties of the target tissue, and then are processed with technologies such as 3D printing, into constructs that mimic its natural architecture. Type I bovine collagen formulations, containing functional nanoparticles (enriched with therapeutic ions or biomolecules) or nanohydroxyapatite, are considered highly promising, and can be printed using support baths. These baths ensure an accurate deposition of the material, nonetheless their full removal post-printing can be difficult, in addition to undesired reactions with the crosslinking agents often used to improve the final structural integrity of the scaffolds. Such issues lead to partial collapse of the printed constructs and loss of geometrical definition. To overcome these limitations, this work presents a new alternative approach, which consists of adding a suitable concentration of crosslinking agent to the printing formulations to promote the in-situ crosslinking of the constructs prior to the removal of the support bath. To this aim, genipin, chosen as crosslinking agent, was added (0.1 wt.%) to collagen-based biomaterial inks (containing either 38 wt.% mesoporous bioactive glasses or 65 wt.% nanohydroxyapatite), to trigger the crosslinking of collagen and improve the stability of the 3D printed scaffolds in the post-processing step. Moreover, to support the material deposition, a 15 wt.% alginic acid solution was used as a bath, which proved to sustain the printed structures and was also easily removable, allowing for the stable processing of high-resolution geometries.
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The strontium-enriched nano-HA/collagen scaffold prepared by Melo et al. was capable of delivering strontium ions.
“This scaffold was capable of delivering strontium ions”
From Nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen composite as scaffold material for bone regeneration. (2023) · cites this paper as [80]
The Materials section (2.1) identifies two distinct formulations: collagen with strontium-containing mesoporous bioactive glass (Coll/MBG_Sr4%) and collagen with nano-hydroxyapatite (Coll/nanoHA). The Results (3.3) confirm strontium-ion release from the MBG-containing formulation, not from the nano-HA/collagen scaffold named in the claim. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBy visual estimation, the printed scaffolds were in the exact architecture as that of the CAD file developed using different process conditions.
“By visual estimation, the printed scaffolds were in the exact architecture as that of the CAD file developed using different process conditions”
From Nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen composite as scaffold material for bone regeneration. (2023) · cites this paper as [80]
Results §3.4 says visual inspection found that the geometries were successfully replicated, and the Methods §2.6 describes testing different process conditions. But the paper describes the printed geometry as similar to the CAD file, not exact: some conditions produced oversized strands or missing pores, while optimized conditions improved fidelity. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMelo et al. prepared a strontium-enriched nano-HA/collagen scaffold cross-linked with genipin.
“Melo et al [80] prepared strontium enriched nano HA/collagen scaffold cross-linked with genipin.”
From Nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen composite as scaffold material for bone regeneration. (2023) · cites this paper as [80]
Materials and Methods (§2.1–2.2) identifies a genipin-containing collagen/nanoHA formulation, but lists the strontium-containing nanoparticles in a separate collagen/MBG formulation. The Conclusions likewise distinguish HA nanoparticles from strontium-enriched MBGs. The source therefore supports the genipin-crosslinked nanoHA/collagen scaffold, not its description as strontium-enriched. (LLM, conf=0.91)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredIn the report by Melo et al., genipin was added along with the mixture, and therefore in-situ cross-linking occurred, leading to better stability of the scaffold architecture.
“However, in this report, genipin is added along with the mixture, and therefore, in-situ cross-linking occurs leading to better stability of the scaffold architecture.”
From Nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen composite as scaffold material for bone regeneration. (2023) · cites this paper as [80]
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- Authors
- Melo, P., Montalbano, G., Fiorilli, S., & Vitale-Brovarone, C.
- Affiliations
- Politecnico di Torino (IT)
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy
- Corresponding author
- Fiorilli, Sonia
- Venue
- Materials
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2021-11-08
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 21
- Pages
- 6720
- ISSN
- 1996-1944 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8588345
- OpenAlex
- W3213471443
- Cited by
- 10
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 0.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Materials (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PORTO@Iris (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity) (cc-by)
- Funders
- European Research Council (681798-BOOST)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Collagen: Extraction and Characterization
- Keywords
- 3D printing, collagen scaffolds, in situ crosslinking, genipin, mesoporous bioactive glass, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, bone regeneration, scaffold stability, bioactive materials
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