We are pleased to announce that we have successfully reached a new milestone by having validated our synthesised hydrogel candidates for future bioprinting applications according to ISO standards.
Developing safe and effective biomaterials is a critical step in advancing tissue engineering solutions towards clinical application. Within the STRONG-UR project, recent in vitro biocompatibility assessments carried out by our partner Aalborg University (AAU) have provided encouraging results for several hydrogel formulations designed for future bioink and bioprinting applications. Hydrogels are soft, water-rich materials that can mimic some of the properties of human tissues, making them promising candidates for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Before such materials can be used in biomedical applications, they must be carefully evaluated to ensure they are safe for living cells.
What did we test?
We assessed three types of hydrogels developed within the project:
- Dextran-based hydrogels, made from dextran, a sugar-derived biopolymer widely used in biomedical research.
- Gelatin-based hydrogels, derived from gelatin, a material obtained from collagen that is known for its compatibility with cells.
- Dextran–gelatin hybrid hydrogels, which combine the properties of both materials to create versatile platforms for future bioprinting applications.
The assessments focused on key parameters including cytotoxicity, cell viability, and cellular metabolic activity. All testing procedures were conducted in accordance with ISO 10993-5 and ISO 10993-12 standards, following the project’s approved internal protocols.
Outcomes
The results showed that all tested hydrogels remained below the cytotoxicity threshold defined by ISO standards, confirming their fundamental biocompatibility.
Among the evaluated materials, gelatin-based hydrogels and the 5% GelSH-DexNB hybrid formulation emerged as particularly promising candidates. These formulations demonstrated strong support for cellular viability and metabolic activity, supporting their further evaluation for future bioink development and 3D bioprinting integration.
The findings also highlighted the importance of formulation design. While dextran-based hydrogels showed minimal toxicity, some reduction in long-term metabolic activity suggested the need for further optimisation. Similarly, higher-concentration hybrid hydrogels showed reduced cell proliferation compared to lower-concentration formulations.
Overall, the results generated provide an important scientific foundation for the next phases of STRONG-UR. By identifying the most promising hydrogel candidates and confirming their biocompatibility, the project can now advance the development and assessment of bioinks for 3D bioprinting, bringing us one step closer to creating innovative tissue engineering solutions for personalised regenerative medicine applications.
