Figure 42 Schematic diagram for modification of SF with GMA (Silk-GMA) and bioprinting of chondrocyte with Silk-GMA DLP 3D-printing technology.[149]
Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) has been utilized as precursor for 3D-printed hydrogels because its biological activity, fast photocrosslinking ability and temperature adjustable viscosity,[150] whereas the poor mechanical strength, low stability and non-self-healing behavior have hampered its practical application in field of biomaterials. To deal with this limitation, Mao et al.[151] synthesized a novel host-guest supramolecular compound HGSM which based on the inclusion interaction between cyclodextrin (CD) and adamantane (Ad), as exhibited in Figure 43. The HGSM that has three “arms” of acrylates and GelMA can photopolymerize to construct the hydrogel HGGelMA which possesses the excellent mechanical and rapid self-healing properties due to the non-covalent bonds. Compared with pure GelMA hydrogel, the compression modulus of HGGelMA hydrogel increased by 525% which reached the level of most human soft tissues. In addition, the HGGelMA hydrogel displayed an excellent printability, The scaffold of 3D-printed HGGelMA hydrogel has the exquisite and homogeneous porous structures, good biocompatibility and histocompatibility with potential biomedical applications.