Hakan Berk Aydin

PhD Student

Advances in the development and applications of alginate-based hydrogels for biofabrication

Supervisor: Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini

Mimicking the native extracellular matrix, biocompatible alginate-based hydrogels represent a platform for advancing the field of biofabrication, particularly 3D bioprinting. However, untreated alginate hydrogels show limited in vivo degradation and do not have biological signals to support cell attachment and proliferation. Thus alginate hydrogels need to be functionalized in order to achieve controlled degradation rates and biological functionality. The aim of this project, within the framework of the DFG-funded SFB/Transregio Collaborative Research Center TRR 225 (“From the fundamentals of biofabrication towards functional tissue models”) (https://trr225biofab.de/ ) (TP A01), is to advance the development of functionalized oxidized alginate (ADA)-based bioinks. The primary focus is on improving ink formulations, for example by incorporating alternative cross-linking approaches, to improve printability and precisely tune the mechanical properties of the biofabricated constructs. Therefore, the degree of oxidation and relative concentrations of ADA and Gelatine will be investigated to tailor cell-matrix interactions and printability. Ultimately, the project will establish robust bioink formulations for biofabrication. This project is being carried out in collaboration with Prof. Ben Fabry, at FAU Biophysics Group, and Dr. Rainer Detsch, Institute of Biomaterials, FAU.