3D Printing of Shape-Persistent and Tough Poly(vinyl alcohol)-based Hydrogel Using Scaffold-Assisted Freeze-Thaw Cycling Method
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The remarkable nontoxic and biocompatible properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel have wide biomedical use (e.g. cartilage replacement). Recently reported PVA hydrogels were 3D printed to mimic intricate organ structures but encountered challenges in achieving both high-quality printed architecture and superior mechanical properties. Here, we present a strategy to 3D print a shape-persistent and tough PVA-based hydrogel through a scaffold-assisted freeze-thaw (F-T) cycling method. Incorporating a polyacrylamide (PAAm) network as a scaffold to the PVA hydrogel enhanced the structural stability of the printed architecture and enabled subsequent F-T cycles without losing its initial printed shape. The anisotropic honeycomb-like structure, obtained through F-T cycles, exhibited exceptional mechanical properties. This study establishes an advanced 3D fabrication process for constructing tough PVA-based hydrogels, offering exciting possibilities for the construction of complex and lifelike artificial organs.