A new bio-ink may support a more efficient and inexpensive fabrication of human tissues and organs. Using techniques like 3D printing, scientists are creating bio-material products that function alongside living cells. These products are made using a number of biomaterials including gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), a hydrogel that can serve as a building block in bio-printing. This type of biomaterial — called bio-ink — are made of living cells, but can be printed and molded into specific organ or tissue shapes.
The researchers analyzed the physical and biological properties of three different GelMA hydrogels — porcine skin, cold-water fish skin, and cold-soluble gelatin. They found that hydrogel made from cold-soluble gelatin (gelatin that dissolves without heat) was by far the best performer and a strong candidate for future 3D organ printing.
The team also demonstrated that cold-soluble GelMA produces consistently uniform droplets at temperatures, thus making it an excellent choice for use in 3D bio-printing. Three times cheaper than porcine skin gelatin, cold-soluble gelatin is used primarily in culinary applications.