3D Foaming Printing Biomimetic Hierarchically Macro–Micronanoporous Hydrogels for Enhancing Cell Growth and Proliferation

Abstract

Hydrogel, recognized as a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering, possesses notable characteristics, including high water uptake, an interconnected porous structure, and excellent permeability. However, the intricate task of fabricating a hierarchically macro−micronanoporous structure, essential for providing adequate space for nutrient diffusion and cell growth within hydrogels, remains a formidable challenge. In response to these challenges, this study introduces a sustainable and straightforward three-dimensional (3D) foaming printing strategy to produce hierarchically macro−micronanoporous hydrogels (HPHs) without the utilization of porogens and post-etching process. This method entails the controlled generation of air bubbles within the hydrogels through the application of optimal mechanical stirring rates. Subsequent ultraviolet (UV) cross-linking serves to effectively stabilize the macropores within the HPHs. The resulting hierarchically macro−micronanoporous structures demonstrate a substantial improvement in the viability, adhesion, and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) when incubated with the hydrogels. These findings present a significant advancement in the fabrication of hierarchically macro−micronanoporous hydrogels, with potential applications in the fields of tissue engineering and organoid development.