3D printable carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal-reinforced hydrogel inks for tissue engineering.

To achieve a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment for complex tissue regeneration is a great challenge when developing biomaterials as artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) with properties similar to that of native tissue. Polysaccharide-based hydrogel shows great potential as ECM in the regeneration of damaged tissues or reconstruction of organs, demonstrating properties similar to those of native ECM. Extrusion 3D printing of cell-free or cell-loaded hydrogel ink has led to a more sophisticated fabrication of the desired compositions and architectures for tissue engineering applications.

Development of halloysite nanotube/carboxylated-cellulose nanocrystal-reinforced and ionically-crosslinked polysaccharide hydrogels.

We report the development of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)/carboxylated-cellulose nanocrystals (cCNCs) - reinforced and ionically-crosslinked k-carrageenan (k-CG)/xanthan gum (XG) hydrogels. In this study, cCNCs were extracted from microcrystalline cellulose using ammonium persulfate and exhibit 'spindle-like' nanocrystals with approximate diameter of 15-30 nm and length of 30-120 nm. The freeze-dried hydrogels showed highly porous microstructure with good pore-interconnectivity.