Researchers develop bio-ink for personalised tissue repair
Using Kombucha SCOBY Nanocellulose
Researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SEOULTECH) have groundbreaking tissue repair development by creating a bio-ink derived from Kombucha SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) nanocellulose.
This innovative bio-ink, which serves as a scaffold to support cell growth, can be precisely applied to damaged tissue using a digital open, offering an efficient and practical solution for wound healing.
The new bio-ink can be directly applied to tissue defects, such as irregular cartilage or large skin wounds, by a handheld device called the ‘Biowork’ open. This technology is expected to be a game-changer, particularly for emergency and first-aid situations, where quick, direct in vivo tissue engineering could make a significant difference. The bio pen’s ability to precisely deliver the bio-ink to the affected area eliminates the need for the traditional, time-consuming in vitro tissue engineering process.
Combining 3D printing with bio-ink to grow human cells on scaffolds, tissue engineering has become a cutting-edge solution for replacing damaged tissues like skin, cartilage, and organs. The bio-ink developed by SEOULTECH researchers, led by Professor Insup Noh, is derived from nanocellulose produced by Kombucha SCOBY. This sustainable, biodegradable material offers a promising alternative to conventional bio-inks.
According to Prof. Noh, the bioink’s versatility extends beyond tissue repair. It can also be loaded with biomolecules and drugs, allowing for direct bioprinting in vivo. This means the technology could one day be used for wound healing and delivering therapeutic agents to the affected tissues.
Kombucha SCOBY, used to ferment green tea, produces cellulose, a material compatible with human cells and biodegradable. However, the nanocellulose produced from SCOBY has an entangled structure that requires modification for 3D bioprinting. To address this, the researchers partially hydrolysed the nanocellulose with acetic acid, a treatment that breaks down glucose bonds and loosens the structure, making it easier to print. However, this process weakened the material’s structural strength, reinforced by adding chitosan and kaolin nanoparticles. These positively and negatively charged particles interact with the cellulose, stabilising the material into a hydrogel suitable for bioprinting.
The resulting bio-ink, when mixed with live cells, is applied using the open, which features two counter-rotating screws that ensure a consistent, homogeneous mixture. The open allows for the precise application of bio-ink directly onto tissue defects. The open can also be connected to a 3D bioprinter, creating high-resolution, multilayered structures, such as bifurcated tubes and pyramids, which stand over 1 cm tall. The open was used in tests to print complex, irregularly shaped defects directly, such as those in the 3D-printed cranium and femoral head models.
This innovative bio-ink and open system offers a cost-effective, user-friendly method for treating large or irregularly shaped wounds. Its ease of use, particularly in emergencies, could revolutionise tissue repair.
“This technology allows for a quick and easy one-step process where the drug and hydrogel are mixed and immediately applied on-site to injured areas of different shapes,” says Prof. Noh.
The research paper outlining these findings was made available online on 28 October 2024 and was later published in the December 2024 issue of the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
Image credit: SEOULTECH
Last Updated on 1 month by Dan Ngiam
