Impact of Hydroxyapatite on Gelatin/Oxidized Alginate 3D-Printed Cryogel Scaffolds

This study explored the use of hydroxyapatite (HAp) in 3D-printed gelatin/oxidized alginate (Gel/OxAlg) cryogel scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Scaffolds with 5% and 10% HAp content were compared to HAp-free scaffolds, showing reduced pore sizes and increased mechanical stability, with Young's moduli of 18 and 21 kPa, respectively, compared to 11 kPa for HAp-free constructs. Biological assessments with mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation, with high mineralization in HAp-containing scaffolds. The 5% HAp scaffolds showed improved mechanical properties and shape fidelity, enhancing bone tissue formation, while 10% HAp offered only minor mechanical benefits and compromised shape fidelity, indicating that 5% HAp is optimal for these applications.