Biomacromolecules with poor mechanical properties cannot satisfy the stringent requirement for load-bearing as bioscaffolds. Herein, a biodegradable high-strength supramolecular polymer strengthened hydrogel composed of cleavable poly(N-acryloyl 2-glycine) (PACG) and methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) (PACG-GelMA) is successfully constructed by photo-initiated polymerization. Introducing hydrogen bond-strengthened PACG contributes to a significant increase in the mechanical strengths of gelatin hydrogel with a high tensile strength (up to 1.1 MPa), outstanding compressive strength (up to 12.4 MPa), large Young's modulus (up to 320 kPa), and high compression modulus (up to 837 kPa). In turn, the GelMA chemical crosslinking could stabilize the temporary PACG network, showing tunable biodegradability by adjusting ACG/GelMA ratios. Further, a biohybrid gradient scaffold consisting of top layer of PACG-GelMA hydrogel-Mn2+ and bottom layer of PACG-GelMA hydrogel-bioactive glass is fabricated for repair of osteochondral defects by a 3D printing technique. In vitro biological experiments demonstrate that the biohybrid gradient hydrogel scaffold not only supports cell attachment and spreading but also enhances gene expression of chondrogenic-related and osteogenic-related differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells. Around 12 weeks after in vivo implantation, the biohybrid gradient hydrogel scaffold significantly facilitates concurrent regeneration of cartilage and subchondral bone in a rat model.
Keywords: 3D printing; biohybrid gradient scaffolds; high strength; osteochondral regeneration; supramolecular polymers.