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Abstract Adhesive tissue engineering scaffolds (ATESs) have emerged as an innovative alternative means, replacing sutures and bioglues, to secure the implants onto target tissues. Relying on their intrinsic tissue adhesion characteristics, ATES systems enable minimally invasive delivery of various scaffolds. This study investigates development of the first class of 3D bioprinted ATES constructs using functionalized hydrogel bioinks. Two ATES delivery strategies, in situ printing onto the adherend versus printing and then transferring to the target surface, are tested using two bioprinting methods, embedded versus air printing. Dopamine‐modified methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA‐Dopa) and gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) are used as the main bioink components, enabling fabrication of scaffolds with enhanced adhesion and crosslinking properties. Results demonstrate that dopamine modification improved adhesive properties of the HAMA‐Dopa/GelMA constructs under various loading conditions, while maintaining their structural fidelity, stability, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. While directly printing onto the adherend yields superior adhesive strength, embedded printing followed by transfer to the target tissue demonstrates greater potential for translational applications. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of bioprinted ATESs as off‐the‐shelf medical devices for diverse biomedical applications.
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This content will become publicly available on August 5, 2026
Nanocomposite GelMA Bioinks: Toward Next‐Generation Multifunctional 3D‐Bioprinted Platforms
Abstract The convergence of nanotechnology and bioprinting is redefining the landscape of tissue engineering, with nanocomposite gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) bioinks emerging as a transformative platform for the biofabrication of multifunctional tissue‐specific constructs. GelMA, a photocrosslinkable hydrogel, has rapidly gained attention due to its intrinsic bioactivity, tunable mechanical properties, and compatibility with living cells. However, despite its wide applicability regenerating muscle, cartilage, bone, vascular, cardiac, and neural tissues, native GelMA suffers from limited mechanical strength and insufficient biofunctionality to recapitulate the complexity of specialized tissues. To overcome these shortcomings, recent strategies have focused on the incorporation of nanomaterials into GelMA matrices, ranging from inorganic and carbon‐based to metallic, polymeric, and lipidic nanomaterials. These nanocomposite bioprinted scaffolds impart critical enhancements, including improved mechanical robustness, electrical conductivity, stimuli‐responsiveness, and bioactivity, while also enabling advanced functionalities such as controlled drug release and real‐time responsiveness to the cellular microenvironment. This review examines the bioprinting parameters, material synergies, and design strategies governing the performance of nanocomposite GelMA bioinks. By integrating the tunability of photocrosslinkable bioinks with the multifunctionality of nanomaterials, nanocomposite GelMA bioinks represent a next‐generation platform capable of addressing the complex demands of tissue repair and regeneration.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2036802
- PAR ID:
- 10633588
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Small
- ISSN:
- 1613-6810
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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