Polysaccharide Hydrogel-Based 3D Printing Technology
摘要
This chapter explores the evolution and application of polysaccharide hydrogel materials in additive manufacturing technology. It also highlights 3D-printed polysaccharides adaptability, biocompatibility, and sustainability across various biomedical domains like drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicines. Polysaccharide-based hydrogels, sourced from natural materials e.g., starch, chitosan, alginate, and cellulose, have discrete benefits, counting facile functionalization, tunable properties, and biodegradability. The chapter examines various fabrication techniques, namely extrusion-based and inkjet-based 3D printing technologies. It highlights the limitations associated with their processing or fabrication, including maintaining structural integrity and optimizing print resolution. The capabilities of polysaccharide hydrogels in fabricating intricate, hierarchical structures with exceptional accuracy and application in developing scaffolds for cell culture and tissue regeneration are amazing. This chapter also covers the recent breakthroughs in enhancing these hydrogels’ mechanical strength, stability, and bioactivity via crosslinking techniques and composite formations. The future possibilities and current research initiatives focused on improving the performance and broadening the applications of polysaccharide hydrogel-based 3D printing are examined, establishing them as a potential material for next-generation biomedical and industrial applications.