Chapter 6
Nanocomposite Clay-Based Bioinks for Skeletal Tissue
Engineering
Gianluca Cidonio, Michael Glinka, Yang-Hee Kim,
Jonathan I. Dawson, and Richard O. C. Oreffo
Abstract
Biofabrication is revolutionizing substitute tissue manufacturing. Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) can be blended
with hydrogel biomaterials and printed to form three-dimensional structures that can closely mimic tissues
of interest. Our bioink formulation takes into account the potential for cell printing including a bioink
nanocomposite that contains low fraction polymeric content to facilitate cell encapsulation and survival,
while preserving hydrogel integrity and mechanical properties following extrusion. Clay inclusion to the
nanocomposite strengthens the alginate-methylcellulose network providing a biopaste with unique shearthinning properties that can be easily prepared under sterile conditions. SSCs can be mixed with the claybased paste, and the resulting bioink can be printed in 3D structures ready for implantation. In this chapter,
we provide the methodology for preparation, encapsulation, and printing of SSCs in a unique clay-based
bioink.
Key words Biofabrication, Bioink, Clay, Laponite, Scaffolds, Bone repair, Skeletal stem cell
1 Introduction
Clay has been commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry (predominantly as excipients with roles as lubricants, diluents, flavor
correctors, emulsifiers, rheological agents, and drug delivery modifiers in areas from gastroenterology, antacids, and antidiarrheics to
aesthetic medicine and cosmetics) [1, 2] and in the last few years has
generated significant interest as a biomaterial for regenerative
medicine [3].
Clay minerals, also called sheet silicates or phyllosilicates, are a
family of inorganic layered nanomaterials of which smectites, specifically Laponite, are most relevant for biomaterial design and
bioink development. Laponite is composed of disk-like nanoparticles 25 nm in diameter and 1 nm in thickness with negatively
charged faces and a weak positively charged rim surface
Alberto Rainer and Lorenzo Moroni (eds.), Computer-Aided Tissue Engineering: Methods and Protocols,
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2147, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0611-7_6,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
63
Nanocomposite Clay-Based Bioinks for Skeletal Tissue
Engineering
Gianluca Cidonio, Michael Glinka, Yang-Hee Kim,
Jonathan I. Dawson, and Richard O. C. Oreffo
Abstract
Biofabrication is revolutionizing substitute tissue manufacturing. Skeletal stem cells (SSCs) can be blended
with hydrogel biomaterials and printed to form three-dimensional structures that can closely mimic tissues
of interest. Our bioink formulation takes into account the potential for cell printing including a bioink
nanocomposite that contains low fraction polymeric content to facilitate cell encapsulation and survival,
while preserving hydrogel integrity and mechanical properties following extrusion. Clay inclusion to the
nanocomposite strengthens the alginate-methylcellulose network providing a biopaste with unique shearthinning properties that can be easily prepared under sterile conditions. SSCs can be mixed with the claybased paste, and the resulting bioink can be printed in 3D structures ready for implantation. In this chapter,
we provide the methodology for preparation, encapsulation, and printing of SSCs in a unique clay-based
bioink.
Key words Biofabrication, Bioink, Clay, Laponite, Scaffolds, Bone repair, Skeletal stem cell
1 Introduction
Clay has been commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry (predominantly as excipients with roles as lubricants, diluents, flavor
correctors, emulsifiers, rheological agents, and drug delivery modifiers in areas from gastroenterology, antacids, and antidiarrheics to
aesthetic medicine and cosmetics) [1, 2] and in the last few years has
generated significant interest as a biomaterial for regenerative
medicine [3].
Clay minerals, also called sheet silicates or phyllosilicates, are a
family of inorganic layered nanomaterials of which smectites, specifically Laponite, are most relevant for biomaterial design and
bioink development. Laponite is composed of disk-like nanoparticles 25 nm in diameter and 1 nm in thickness with negatively
charged faces and a weak positively charged rim surface
Alberto Rainer and Lorenzo Moroni (eds.), Computer-Aided Tissue Engineering: Methods and Protocols,
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2147, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0611-7_6,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
63