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D’Amora U, Ronca A, Scialla S, Soriente A, Manini P, Phua JW, Ottenheim C, Pezzella A, Calabrese G, Raucci MG, Ambrosio L. Bioactive Composite Methacrylated Gellan Gum for 3D-Printed Bone Tissue-Engineered Scaffolds. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:772. [PMID: 36839140 PMCID: PMC9963483 DOI: 10.3390/nano13040772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Gellan gum (GG) was chemically modified with methacrylic moieties to produce a photocrosslinkable biomaterial ink, hereinafter called methacrylated GG (GGMA), with improved physico-chemical properties, mechanical behavior and stability under physiological conditions. Afterwards, GGMA was functionalized by incorporating two different bioactive compounds, a naturally derived eumelanin extracted from the black soldier fly (BSF-Eumel), or hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HAp), synthesized by the sol-gel method. Different ink formulations based on GGMA (2 and 4% (w/v)), BSF-Eumel, at a selected concentration (0.3125 mg/mL), or HAp (10 and 30% wHAp/wGGMA) were developed and processed by three-dimensional (3D) printing. All the functionalized GGMA-based ink formulations allowed obtaining 3D-printed GGMA-based scaffolds with a well-organized structure. For both bioactive signals, the scaffolds with the highest GGMA concentration (4% (w/v)) and the highest percentage of infill (45%) showed the best performances in terms of morphological and mechanical properties. Indeed, these scaffolds showed a good structural integrity over 28 days. Given the presence of negatively charged groups along the eumelanin backbone, scaffolds consisting of GGMA/BSF-Eumel demonstrated a higher stability. From a mechanical point of view, GGMA/BSF-Eumel scaffolds exhibited values of storage modulus similar to those of GGMA ones, while the inclusion of HAp at 30% (wHAp/wGGMA) led to a storage modulus of 32.5 kPa, 3.5-fold greater than neat GGMA. In vitro studies proved the capability of the bioactivated 3D-printed scaffolds to support 7F2 osteoblast cell growth and differentiation. BSF-Eumel and HAp triggered a different time-dependent physiological response in the osteoblasts. Specifically, while the ink with BSF-Eumel acted as a stimulus towards cell proliferation, reaching the highest value at 14 days, a higher expression of alkaline phosphatase activity was detected for scaffolds consisting of GGMA and HAp. The overall findings demonstrated the possible use of these biomaterial inks for 3D-printed bone tissue-engineered scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo D’Amora
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Ronca
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Scialla
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriente
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Manini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Bioelectronics Task Force, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Jun Wei Phua
- Insectta, 60 Jalan Penjara, Singapore 149375, Singapore
| | | | - Alessandro Pezzella
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
- Bioelectronics Task Force, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Department of Physics “E. Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanna Calabrese
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Raucci
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
- Bioelectronics Task Force, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Ambrosio
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80125 Naples, Italy
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D’Amora U, Soriente A, Ronca A, Scialla S, Perrella M, Manini P, Phua JW, Ottenheim C, Di Girolamo R, Pezzella A, Raucci MG, Ambrosio L. Eumelanin from the Black Soldier Fly as Sustainable Biomaterial: Characterisation and Functional Benefits in Tissue-Engineered Composite Scaffolds. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112945. [PMID: 36428512 PMCID: PMC9687302 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An optimized extraction protocol for eumelanins from black soldier flies (BSF-Eumel) allows an in-depth study of natural eumelanin pigments, which are a valuable tool for the design and fabrication of sustainable scaffolds. Here, water-soluble BSF-Eumel sub-micrometer colloidal particles were used as bioactive signals for developing a composite biomaterial ink for scaffold preparation. For this purpose, BSF-Eumel was characterized both chemically and morphologically; moreover, biological studies were carried out to investigate the dose-dependent cell viability and its influence on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), with the aim of validating suitable protocols and to find an optimal working concentration for eumelanin-based scaffold preparation. As proof of concept, 3D printed scaffolds based on methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MEHA) and BSF-Eumel were successfully produced. The scaffolds with and without BSF-Eumel were characterized in terms of their physico-chemical, mechanical and biological behaviours. The results showed that MEHA/BSF-Eumel scaffolds had similar storage modulus values to MEHA scaffolds. In terms of swelling ratio and stability, these scaffolds were able to retain their structure without significant changes over 21 days. Biological investigations demonstrated the ability of the bioactivated scaffolds to support the adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo D’Amora
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80135 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriente
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80135 Naples, Italy
| | - Alfredo Ronca
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80135 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.R.); (P.M.)
| | - Stefania Scialla
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80135 Naples, Italy
| | - Martina Perrella
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80135 Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Manini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Bioelectronics Task Force, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.R.); (P.M.)
| | - Jun Wei Phua
- Insectta, 60 Jalan Penjara, Singapore 149375, Singapore
| | | | - Rocco Di Girolamo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pezzella
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80135 Naples, Italy
- Bioelectronics Task Force, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Department of Physics “E. Pancini”, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Raucci
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80135 Naples, Italy
- Bioelectronics Task Force, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Ambrosio
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, 80135 Naples, Italy
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