Polyurethane-gelatin methacryloyl hybrid ink for 3D printing of biocompatible and tough vascular networks

A polyurethane-gelatin methacryloyl (PU-GelMA) hybrid ink was developed as a photo-crosslinkable elastic hydrogel. With the additional acrylic monomer, the ink can be tuned to accommodate elasticity and printability. Attributed to the shear-thinning properties of GelMA, PU-GelMA was preferable for extrusion printing. 3D-constructs were printed by direct extrusion or by using a sacrificial scaffold to resemble the vascular networks. The proliferation of endothelial cells on the PU-GelMA hydrogel indicated decent biocompatibility and potential utilization in artificial vessels.

Automated summary

A polyurethane-gelatin methacryloyl (PU-GelMA) hybrid ink with photo-crosslinkable elastic hydrogel properties was developed for 3D printing. The ink's elasticity and printability can be adjusted by adding acrylic monomers. It can be used for either direct extrusion printing or printing with sacrificial scaffolds to create vascular-like structures. The proliferation of endothelial cells on the PU-GelMA hydrogel suggests its biocompatibility and potential use in artificial vessels.