Protocol for 3D bioprinting of nanoparticle-laden hydrogels to enhance antibacterial and imaging properties

Mehdi Salar Amoli; Linqi Jin; Sarah Rezapourdamanab; Maher Saadeh; Yamini Singh; Liqun Ning; Boeun Hwang; Martin L Tomov; Christopher N LaRock; Morteza Mahmoudi; Holly Bauser-Heaton; Vahid Serpooshan

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103393

Protocol for 3D bioprinting of nanoparticle-laden hydrogels to enhance antibacterial and imaging properties

STAR Protoc. 2024 Oct 15;5(4):103393. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103393. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
⁵ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁶ Precision Health Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
⁷ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Sibley Heart Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁸ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

This protocol describes the preparation of a nanoparticle-encapsulated bioink capable of protecting tissue-engineered constructs against bacterial infections while also providing contrast for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging modalities. The report includes details of preparing the methacrylated gelatin-based bioinks and the incorporation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. A detailed protocol is presented for characterizing the bioink, evaluating cell response, and assessing its antibacterial effect. Overall, this article presents a robust approach for the development of antibacterial, MR-visible bioinks suitable for various tissue engineering applications. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Theus et al.¹.

Keywords: biotechnology and bioengineering; tissue engineering.