University of Ottawa

Purpose

The goal of this project is to develop alginate-based bioinks tailored for specific applications in bioprinting of complex 3D tissue models . These efforts will represent a continuation of recent work carried out by this team. The effects of different base alginate materials and cross-linking strategies on the mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogels will be tested. Hydrogels serve as the structural component for the spatial delivery of cells in bioprinted tissues. Their mechanical properties can impact cell responses and tissue construct integrity. The alginate molecules will also be modified to include biochemical signals that can be recognized by cells and direct their responses. This work will enable the ability to control the mechanical and biochemical environment of cells in bioprinted tissues. Development of the bioink toolkit will be done via an iterative process to address the needs of the fabrication and testing of the 3D tissue models.