Peptide-Functionalized Hydrocolloid Bioink for 3D Bioprinting in Dental Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Developing biomimetic peptide-based biomaterials has utmost importance to enhance mineralization offering an innovative approach for dental tissue regeneration. This study comprises development and characterization of a novel peptide-based hybrid bioink for dental tissue engineering applications by integrating P11-4 peptide and Gelatin (Gel) into glucuronoxylan-based quince seed hydrocolloid (QSH). Combining polysaccharide and peptide-based hydrogels enhanced cell adhesion and mineralization. Morphological analysis showed that P11-4 increased porosity, while rheological tests confirmed that QSH/Gel/P11-4 bioink has tunable viscosity, which is suitable for 3D bioprinting. Optimized bioprinting parameters were determined to be 25G nozzle diameter, 10 mm/s speed of movement, 0.1 mm layer height, and pressure values of 9.0 and 7.0 psi for QSH/Gel and QSH/ Gel/P11-4, respectively. Moreover, the addition of P11-4 significantly increased protein adsorption without affecting swelling capacity. 3D cell culture studies were conducted using SaOS-2 (human osteosarcoma) cells, then biocompatibility, high cell viability, favored adhesion, and proliferation were confirmed by Live/Dead and MTT assays. Alizarin Red Staining (ARS) and EDX analysis verified that P11-4 promoted mineral deposition by increasing Calcium (Ca2+) accumulation in QSH/Gel/P11-4 scaffolds, suggesting that developed bioink can mimic native ECM microenvironment for dental tissue. Overall, the developed hybrid bioink shows superior printability and bioactivity, which makes it a promising material for 3D bioprinting applications in dental tissue engineering.