3D Bioprinting of Soft Polymeric Nanocomposites

3D bioprinting uses a combination of natural and synthetic materials for a useful tissue scaffold. 3D Printing of biomaterials is a customized method to provide a chance to diffuse different cell types at desired locations. Using the in-situ bioprinting tissue scaffold could be made. Alternatively in ex-situ bioprinting, there is a need for cross-linking of cell formulation. Here we report the 3D printing of a photocurable nanomaterial scaffold using Flavin mononucleotide, a synthetic equivalence of DNA with graphene nanoparticles.<br/>Flavin is an important coenzyme for a few oxidative enzymes. It is the principal form in which RIBOFLAVIN is found in cells and tissues. Flavin Mononucleotide (FMN) is a biomolecule produced from vitamin B2 and is an important luciferin (i.e., bioluminescent cofactor).<br/>Graphene-based materials are non-toxic and demonstrate excellent electrochemical and optical properties, as well as the capability to adsorb a variety of aromatic biomolecules through a π–π stacking interaction and/or electrostatic interaction, which make them ideal materials for constructing biosensors and loading drugs. Graphene's biocompatibility, large surface area, excellent mechanical properties, and ease of functionalization make it a unique material for bone tissue and stem cell research. GO substrates allow cell adhesion and proliferation and have been shown to be capable of increasing the differentiation of stem cells into the osteogenic lineage.<br/>It is also anticipated that graphene scaffolds could play a role in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. A graphene scaffold with stem cells has been studied and explored by researchers thus the cells not only did survive, but also divided, proliferated, and morphed into neuron-like cells.<br/>In this research, 3D bioprinting of the mixture of graphene nanoparticles, flavin mononucleotide, and gelatin was performed. We used the R3BEL Mini printer which runs on extrusion-based printing technology, and pronterface as a printer control software tool. Using the same tools, a mixture of Alginate, Bowmans Albumin, and Hydroxyapatite as a nanocomposite has also been synthesized to print bone-like structure.<br/>The customized photocuring nanomaterial was prepared at room temperature. A 5ml syringe with a 22-gauge blunt-tip needle was filled with 4ml photocurable nanomaterial. We printed FMN containing graphene and gelatin biomaterial on a petri dish (100 mm diameter). To print the bone-like structure we used a G-code printer file.<br/>This research is still in progress; after overcoming the existing obstacles, we plan to use FTIR, UV-Vis, XRD, and SEM to analyze the surface properties of our custom-made photocurable nanomaterial scaffold.<br/>This work presented stable structures of 3D printed hydroxyapatite and photocurable polymers as soft nano composite biomaterials.