Novel Gold-Nanoparticle Hydrogels for Bioprinting Applications

University of Utah Technology Commercialization Office
posted on 08/18/2009

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Reference Number: U-4536

Invention Description:

This gold nanoparticle and hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel combines the properties required for successful use in bioprinting tissue engineering. The crosslinking strategy of this hydrogel allows extrusion through a needle tip, while retaining the mechanical properties necessary for the weight-bearing associated with layer-by-layer deposition. Because the hydrogel is biocompatible, it can safely be used in the presence of cells and tissues. In addition, it is degradable under mild conditions, making it suitable for use as a temporary structural element if desired. With the development of this hydrogel, the idea of making bioprinting a successful method for constructing viable tissues and organs becomes more achievable.

Market Applications:

Current hydrogels that have been investigated for bioprinting applications are missing one or more important characteristic. These characteristics include: unique mechanical properties, biocompatibility, degradability, and the ability to stabilize itself after printing. This particular gold-nanoparticle hydrogel possesses all of these characteristics, which will help in furthering current bioprinting technology. This has the potential to make tissue engineering of complex tissues and eventually organs a reality as the need for functional organs and tissues for implantation and other purposes such as drug evaluation increases each year.

Features, Benefits & Advantages:

·         Printing of this hydrogel has been done by hand out of standard syringes and in a bioprinting device developed by nScrypt, Inc.

·         The gold-nanoparticle hydrogel is biocompatible.

·         The hydrogel is readily degraded with mild cysteine or glutathione solutions.

·         The gold-nanoparticle hydrogel will form new crosslinks with itself after printing, further mechanically stabilizing the hydrogel.

Intellectual Property:

A provisional patent application has been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Development Stage:

This technology is part of an active and ongoing research program that has been demonstrated to work in proof-of-concept experiments. It is available for developmental research support/licensing under either exclusive or non-exclusive terms.

Related Research & Publications:

·         Prestwich, Glenn D., Engineering a clinically-useful matrix for cell therapy, Organogenesis. 4(1): 42-47, 2008.

·         http://www.pharmacy.utah.edu/medchem/prestwich/index.html

U of Utah Researcher:

Glenn D. Prestwich, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah.

Other Key Words:

Gold nanoparticles, Glycosil, hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel, bioprinting.