Materials chemistries for hydrogel scaffolds that are capable of programming temporal (4D) attributes of cellular decision‐making in supported 3D microcultures are described. The scaffolds are fabricated using direct‐ink writing (DIW)—a 3D‐printing technique using extrusion to pattern scaffolds at biologically relevant diameters (≤ 100 µm). Herein, DIW is exploited to variously incorporate a rheological nanoclay, Laponite XLG (LAP), into 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)‐based hydrogels—printing the LAP–HEMA (LH) composites as functional modifiers within otherwise unmodified 2D and 3D HEMA microstructures. The nanoclay‐modified domains, when tested as thin films, require no activating (e.g., protein) treatments to promote robust growth compliances that direct the spatial attachment of fibroblast (3T3) and preosteoblast (E1) cells, fostering for the latter a capacity to direct long‐term osteodifferentiation. Cell‐to‐gel interfacial morphologies and cellular motility are analyzed with spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM). Through combination of HEMA and LH gels, high‐resolution DIW of a nanocomposite ink (UniH) that translates organizationally dynamic attributes seen with 2D gels into dentition‐mimetic 3D scaffolds is demonstrated. These analyses confirm that the underlying materials chemistry and geometry of hydrogel nanocomposites are capable of directing cellular attachment and temporal development within 3D microcultures—a useful material system for the 4D patterning of hydrogel scaffolds.
Direct-ink writing (DIW), a rapidly growing and advancing form of additive manufacturing, provides capacities for on-demand tailoring of materials to meet specific requirements for final designs. The penultimate challenge faced with the increasing demand of customization is to extend beyond modification of shape to create 4D structures, dynamic 3D structures that can respond to stimuli in the local environment. Patterning material gradients is foundational for assembly of 4D structures, however, there remains a general need for useful materials chemistries to generate gray scale gradients via DIW. Here, presented is a simple materials assembly paradigm using DIW to pattern ionotropic gradients in hydrogels. Using structures that architecturally mimic seajelly organisms, the capabilities of spatial patterning are highlighted as exemplified by selectively programming the valency of the ion-binding agents. Spatial gradients, when combined with geometry, allow for programming the flexibility and movement of iron oxide nanoparticleloaded ionotropic hydrogels to generate 4D-printed structures that actuate in the presence of local magnetic fields. This work highlights approaches to 4D design complexity that exploits 3D-printed gray-scale/gradient mechanics.
In article number https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.201800788, Ralph G. Nuzzo and co‐workers show micro‐scaffold hydrogels that are fabricated using the additive manufacturing technique of direct‐ink writing (DIW). The hydrogel compositions are optimized for multilayer printing and are used to tune growth compliance by directing the temporal dynamics and spatial distribution of cell attachment without the use of surface‐modifying treatments. Image courtesy of Joselle M. McCracken.
In article number 1806723, Ralph G. Nuzzo and co‐workers use direct ink writing to prepare soft sea jelly‐mimetic aquatic actuators made from hydrogel materials that integrate structure, composition, and ion‐based gradients to allow mimicry of the dynamic and flexural features of cnidarian organisms. Image courtesy of Joselle M. McCracken.
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