Vat Photopolymerization of CeO2-Incorporated Hydrogel Scaffolds with Antimicrobial Efficacy

초록

We herein demonstrate the utility of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)/poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-cerium oxide (CeO2) hydrogel inks for manufacturing hydrogel scaffolds with antimicrobial efficacy by vat photopolymerization. For uniform blending with GelMA/PEGDA hydrogels, CeO2 nanoparticles with a round shape were synthesized by the precipitation method coupled with calculation at 600 degrees C. In addition, they had highly crystalline phases and the desired chemical structures (oxidation states of Ce3+ and Ce4+) required for outstanding antimicrobial efficacy. A range of GelMA/PEGDA-CeO2 hydrogel scaffolds with different CeO2 contents (0% w/v, 0.1% w/v, 0.5% w/v, 1% w/v, and 5% w/v with respect to distilled water content) were manufactured. The photopolymerization behavior, mechanical properties, and biological properties (swelling and biodegradation behaviors) of hydrogel scaffolds were characterized to optimize the CeO2 content. GelMA/PEGDA-CeO2 hydrogel scaffolds produced with the highest CeO2 content (5% w/v) showed reasonable mechanical properties (compressive strength = 0.56 +/- 0.09 MPa and compressive modulus = 0.19 +/- 0.03 MPa), a high swelling ratio (1063.3 +/- 10.9%), and the desired biodegradation rate (remaining weight after 28 days = 39.6 +/- 2.3%). Furthermore, they showed outstanding antimicrobial efficacy (the number of colony-forming units = 76 +/- 44.6 (x103)). In addition, macroporous GelMA/PEGDA-CeO2 hydrogel scaffolds with tightly controlled porous structures could be manufactured by vat photopolymerization.

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