LAUSR

Three-dimensional constructs are fundamental in tissue engineering and cancer modelling, generating a demand for tailored materials creating a suitable cell culture microenvironment and amenable to be bioprinted. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) is a well-known functionalized natural polymer with good printability and binding motifs allowing cell adhesion; however, its tight micropores induce encapsulated cells to retain a non-physiological spherical shape. To overcome this problem, we here blended GelMa with Pluronic F-127 (PLU) to modify the hydrogel internal porosity by inducing the formation of larger mesoscale pores. The change in porosity also led to increased swelling and a slight decrease in Young's modulus. All blends formed stable hydrogels both when cast in annular molds and bioprinted in complex structures. Embedded cells maintained high viability, and while Neuroblastoma cancer cells typically aggregated inside the mesoscale pores, Mesenchymal Stem Cells stretched in all three dimensions, forming cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions. Our results prove that the combination of tailored porous materials with bioprinting techniques enables to control both the micro and macro architecture of cell-laden constructs, a fundamental aspect for the development of clinically relevant in vitro constructs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.