Ectomesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs) are typical adult stem cells obtained from the cranial neural crest. They have the potential to differentiate into various cell types, such as osseous cells, neurons and glial cells. Three-dimensional (3 D) printing is a novel method to construct biological structures by rapid prototyping. Previously, our group reported on the stemness and multi-lineage differentiation potential of EMSCs on gels. However, the exploration of EMSCs in 3 D printing and then evaluation of the growth and neuronal differentiation of EMSCs on extruded 3 D printable hybrid hydrogels has not been reported. Therefore, the current study explored the novel hybrid Sodium alginate-Matrigel (SA-MA) hydrogel extruded 3 D printing to design an in vitro scaffold to promote the differentiation and growth of EMSCs. In addition, the physical properties of the hydrogel were characterized and its drug-releasing property determined. Notably, the results showed that the construct exhibited a sustain-released effect of growth factor BDNF in accordance with the Higuchi equation. Moreover, the cell survival rate on the 3 D printed scaffold was 88.22 ± 1.13% with higher neuronal differentiation efficiency compared with 2 D culture. Thus, SA-MA’s ability to enhanced EMSCs neuronal differentiation offers a new biomaterial for neurons regeneration in the treatment of spinal cord injury.

外间充质干细胞 (EMSC) 是从颅神经嵴获得的典型成体干细胞。它们具有分化成各种细胞类型的潜力，例如骨细胞、神经元和神经胶质细胞。三维 (3D) 打印是一种通过快速原型构建生物结构的新方法。此前，我们的团队报道了 EMSCs 在凝胶上的干性和多谱系分化潜力。然而，在 3D 打印中探索 EMSCs，然后评估 EMSCs 在挤出的 3D 可打印混合水凝胶上的生长和神经元分化尚未见报道。因此，目前的研究探索了新型混合海藻酸钠-基质胶 (SA-MA) 水凝胶挤出 3D 打印以设计体外支架以促进 EMSCs 的分化和生长。此外，表征了水凝胶的物理特性并确定了其药物释放特性。值得注意的是，结果表明，根据 Higuchi 方程，该构建体表现出生长因子 BDNF 的持续释放作用。此外，与 2D 培养相比，3D 打印支架上的细胞存活率为 88.22±1.13%，神经元分化效率更高。因此，SA-MA 增强 EMSCs 神经元分化的能力为治疗脊髓损伤的神经元再生提供了一种新的生物材料。