Effect of crosslinker concentration on the properties of 3D-bioprinted polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) - gelatin scaffolds for wound dressing applications

• Main Authors: Lau, Erica Angelyne Ong, Padolina, Blesilda Mae Mendoza, Gavino, Charles Gabriel Jose, Dugos, Nathaniel P., Sta. Agueda, Joseph Rey
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: Bioprinting; Tissue engineering; Tissue scaffolds; Chemical Engineering; Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etdb_chemeng/35; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdb_chemeng/article/1033/viewcontent/Effect_of_crosslinker_concentration_on_the_properties_of_3D_biopr_copy.pdf; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etdb_chemeng/article/1033/filename/10/type/additional/viewcontent/Effect_of_crosslinker_concentration_on_the_properties_of_3D_biopr_copy.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

One key tissue engineering strategy studied for wound-healing applications is the fabrication of 3D-bioprinted scaffolds from a mixture of synthetic and natural polymers such as PVA-gelatin solution which are non-toxic, biocompatible, and promotes tissue generation. These scaffolds are explored to address the limitations of traditional wound dressings by providing 3D structures with enhanced scaffold properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying glutaraldehyde crosslinker concentration on the properties of the PVA-gelatin scaffolds. For the first part, the viscosity and printability were observed for the 3D-bioprinting process. The Young’s modulus values of the printed scaffolds were determined. In choosing the most suitable proportion, the criteria of printability, shape fidelity, and similarity of the Young’s modulus of the scaffold to skin sites were considered. The second part is the crosslinking of the scaffolds with varying glutaraldehyde concentrations and comparing their Young’s modulus, swelling capacity, and surface morphology. For P1G3, P2G2, and P3G1 solutions, there was an inverse relationship observed between the viscosity and temperature values. Varying the polymer concentration also influenced the viscosity values as increased viscosity were observed for proportions with higher PVA concentration. Meanwhile, the Young’s modulus values of each proportion increase with higher gelatin proportion. All proportions’ Young’s modulus were within the range of the Young’s modulus of the human skin. Upon evaluation, the most suitable PVA-gelatin proportion was the P2G2 solution. As the glutaraldehyde crosslinker concentration is increased from 0% to 1.5% in the printed scaffolds, the Young’s modulus values increases while its swelling capacity decreases. Even after crosslinking, the Young’s modulus values of the scaffolds were still within the range of the Young’s modulus of the human skin. Uneven surface and roughness were observed in increasing concentrations of glutaraldehyde crosslinker from the SEM results. With P2G2 solution deemed as the most suitable proportion for 3D-bioprinting, it was used to fabricate the scaffolds that were crosslinked with varying glutaraldehyde concentrations. The study was successful in showing the effects of the varying crosslinker concentrations on the mechanical and swelling properties, as well as the surface morphology of the 3D-bioprinted scaffolds.