Inorganic/organic hybrids have co-networks of inorganic and organic components, with the aim of obtaining synergy of the properties of those components. Here, a silica-gelatin sol-gel hybrid “ink” was directly 3D printed to produce 3D grid-like scaffolds, using a coupling agent, 3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), to form covalent bonds between the silicate and gelatin co-networks. Scaffolds were printed with 1 mm strut separation, but the drying method affected the final architecture and properties. Freeze drying produced <40 μm struts and large ~700 μm channels. Critical point drying enabled strut consolidation, with ~160 μm struts and ~200 μm channels, which improved mechanical properties. This architecture was critical to cellular response: when chondrocytes were seeded on the scaffolds with 200 μm wide pore channels in vitro, collagen Type II matrix was preferentially produced (negligible amount of Type I or X were observed), indicative of hyaline-like cartilaginous matrix formation, but when pore channels were 700 μm wide, Type I collagen was prevalent. This was supported by Sox9 and Aggrecan expression. The scaffolds have potential for regeneration of articular cartilage regeneration, particularly in sports medicine cases.

无机/有机杂化物具有无机和有机成分的共网络，目的是获得这些成分特性的协同作用。在这里，使用偶联剂 3-缩水甘油氧基丙基）三甲氧基硅烷 (GPTMS) 直接 3D 打印二氧化硅-明胶溶胶-凝胶混合“墨水”以生产 3D 网格状支架，从而在硅酸盐和明胶共价之间形成共价键。网络。脚手架以 1 毫米的支柱间距打印，但干燥方法影响了最终的结构和性能。冷冻干燥产生 <40 μm 的支柱和约 700 μm 的大通道。临界点干燥使支柱固结成为可能，具有约 160 微米的支柱和约 200 微米的通道，从而提高了机械性能。这种结构对细胞反应至关重要：当在体外将软骨细胞接种在具有 200 μm 宽孔通道的支架上时，优先产生 II 型胶原蛋白基质（观察到的 I 型或 X 型胶原蛋白的量可忽略不计），表明形成了透明样软骨基质，但当孔通道宽度为 700 μm 时，I 型胶原蛋白很普遍。这得到了 Sox9 和 Aggrecan 表达的支持。支架具有再生关节软骨再生的潜力，特别是在运动医学病例中。