3D printing of MOF-reinforced methacrylated gelatin scaffolds for bone regeneration

Abstract

Scaffolds based on gelatin (Gel) play a crucial role in bone tissue engineering. However, the low mechanical properties, rapid biodegradation rate, insufficient osteogenic activity and lacking anti-infective properties limit their applications in bone regeneration. Herein, the incorporation of ibuprofen (IBU)-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) in a methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) matrix was proposed as a simple and effective strategy to develop the IBU-ZIF-8@GelMA scaffolds for enhanced bone regeneration capacity. Results indicated that the IBU-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles with tiny particle sizes were uniformly distributed in the GelMA matrix of the IBU-ZIF-8@GelMA scaffolds, and the IBU-loaded ZIF-8 growing in the scaffolds enabled the controlled and sustained releasing of Zn²⁺ and IBU in pH = 5.5 over a long period for efficient bone repair and long-term anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, the doping of the IBU-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles efficiently enhanced the compression performance of the GelMA scaffolds. In vitro studies indicated that the prepared scaffolds presented no cytotoxicity to MC3T3-E1 cells and the released Zn²⁺ during the degradation of the scaffolds promoted MC3T3-E1 cell osteogenic differentiation. Thus, the drug-loaded ZIF-8 modified 3D printed GelMA scaffolds demonstrated great potential in treating bone defects.

Keywords:

• 3D printing
• methacrylated gelatin
• zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8
• bone tissue engineering scaffolds
• drug release
• osteogenic activity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [21805037], Fujian Province Nature Science Foundation [2020J02033, 2022Y0005], and Fuzhou Science and Technology Project [2021-P-037, 2022-Y-003], Fujian-Taiwan Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering [2021D039], Fujian Provincial Clinical Medical Research Center for First Aid and Rehabilitation in Orthopaedic Trauma [2020Y2014].