title: 3D printing of an interpenetrating network hydrogel material with tunable viscoelastic properties.
abstract: Interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel materials are recognized for their unique mechanical properties. While IPN elasticity and toughness properties have been explored in previous studies, the factors that impact the time-dependent stress relaxation behavior of IPN materials are not well understood. Time-dependent (i.e. viscoelastic) mechanical behavior is a critical design parameter in the development of materials for a variety of applications, such as medical simulation devices, flexible substrate materials, cellular mechanobiology substrates, or regenerative medicine applications. This study reports a novel technique for 3D printing alginate-polyacrylamide IPN gels with tunable elastic and viscoelastic properties. The viscoelastic stress relaxation behavior of the 3D printed alginate-polyacrylamide IPN hydrogels was influenced most strongly by varying the concentration of the acrylamide cross-linker (MBAA), while the elastic modulus was affected most by varying the concentration of total monomer material. The material properties of our 3D printed IPN constructs were consistent with those reported in the biomechanics literature for soft tissues such as skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, skin and subcutaneous tissue.
authors: Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Bootsma
authors: Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA.
authors: Martha M
authors: MM
authors: Fitzgerald
authors: Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA.
authors: Brandon
authors: B
authors: Free
authors: Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Dimbath
authors: Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA.
authors: Joe
authors: J
authors: Conjerti
authors: Research Computing Center, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA.
authors: Greg
authors: G
authors: Reese
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA.
authors: Dominik
authors: D
authors: Konkolewicz
authors: Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA. Electronic address: berberj@miamioh.edu.
authors: Jason A
authors: JA
authors: Berberich
authors: Department of Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056 USA. Electronic address: sparksj6@miamioh.edu.
authors: Jessica L
authors: JL
authors: Sparks
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: 3D printing; Additive manufacturing; Hydrogel; IPN; Stress relaxation; Viscoelasticity