Incorporating graphene oxide inside GelMA hydrogels enhances their mechanical properties and reduces UV-induced cell damage while preserving their favorable characteristics for 3D cell encapsulation. NIH-3T3 fibroblasts encapsulated in GO-GelMA microgels demonstrate excellent cellular viability, proliferation, spreading, and alignment. GO reinforcement combined with a multi-stacking approach offers a facile engineering strategy for the construction of complex artificial tissues.
Keywords: graphene; microgels; multilayer constructs; tissue engineering; tunable stiffness.
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