Purpose: Bioprinting is an alternative method for constructing tissues/organs for transplantation. This study investigated the cross-linker influence and post-printing modification using oligochitosan and chitosan for stability improvement. Methods: Oligochitosan was tested as a novel cross-linker to replace Ca2+ for pectin-based bio-ink. Oligochitosan (2 kD) and different molecular weight of chitosan were used to modify the bioprinted scaffold. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the scaffolds. Results: Oligochitosan failed to serve as a viable cross-linker. Successful post-printing modification was confirmed by FTIR and SEM analyses. Conclusion: Regarding post-modification, chitosan-treated scaffolds showed enhanced stability compared to untreated scaffolds. In particular, scaffolds modified with 150 kD chitosan exhibited the highest stability.

中文翻译：

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生物打印果胶基支架的稳定性改进和表征

目的：生物打印是构建移植组织/器官的替代方法。本研究调查了使用低聚壳聚糖和壳聚糖以提高稳定性的交联剂影响和印后改性。方法：测试壳寡糖作为一种新型交联剂以替代 Ca2+ 用于果胶基生物墨水。寡聚壳聚糖 (2 kD) 和不同分子量的壳聚糖用于修饰生物打印支架。傅里叶变换红外 (FTIR) 光谱和扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) 用于表征支架。结果：壳寡糖不能用作可行的交联剂。FTIR 和 SEM 分析证实了成功的印刷后修改。结论：关于修饰后，与未处理的支架相比，壳聚糖处理的支架显示出增强的稳定性。