3D bioprinting of alginate scaffolds with controlled micropores by leaching of recrystallized salts

It is well known that three-dimensional scaffolds with controlled macropores and micropores are crucially important for tissue engineering. In the present study, a facile method based on leaching of recrystallized sodium chloride (NaCl) is used to create micropores in 3D printed alginate scaffolds. The macropores with size of 811 +/- 78 mu m were controlled by 3D printing, and the micropores with size of 3.2 +/- 1.4 mu m were produced by leaching of the recrystallized NaCl particles. The microporosity can be controlled by the added amount of sodium ions in the alginate inks. The properties of scaffolds including water adsorption, protein delivery and mechanical properties were tailored by the produced micropores. This simple and cell-friendly method might be interesting for 3D bioprinting of tissue engineering scaffolds with designed physical characteristics using alginate-based hydrogel bioinks.