title: Indirect additive manufacturing as an elegant tool for the production of self-supporting low density gelatin scaffolds.
abstract: The present work describes for the first time the production of self-supporting low gelatin density (<10 w/v%) porous scaffolds using methacrylamide-modified gelatin as an extracellular matrix mimicking component. As porous scaffolds starting from low gelatin concentrations cannot be realized with the conventional additive manufacturing techniques in the abscence of additives, we applied an indirect fused deposition modelling approach. To realize this, we have printed a sacrificial polyester scaffold which supported the hydrogel material during UV crosslinking, thereby preventing hydrogel structure collapse. After complete curing, the polyester scaffold was selectively dissolved leaving behind a porous, interconnective low density gelatin scaffold. Scaffold structural analysis indicated the success of the selected indirect additive manufacturing approach. Physico-chemical testing revealed scaffold properties (mechanical, degradation, swelling) to depend on the applied gelatin concentration and methacrylamide content. Preliminary biocompatibility studies revealed the cell-interactive and biocompatible properties of the materials developed.
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.|Brussels Photonics Team, Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Hoorick
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185 6B3, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Declercq
authors.affiliation: UGCT - Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86/N12, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Amelie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Muynck
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Annemie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Houben
authors.affiliation: UGCT - Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86/N12, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Hoorebeke
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185 6B3, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.affiliation: Brussels Photonics Team, Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Erps
authors.affiliation: Brussels Photonics Team, Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thienpont
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. peter.dubruel@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubruel
authors.affiliation: Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S4-Bis, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. sandra.vanvlierberghe@ugent.be.|Brussels Photonics Team, Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium. sandra.vanvlierberghe@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Vlierberghe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D008422:Materials Testing; D016062:Porosity; D012212:Rheology; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D005780:Gelatin