Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as a game-changer technology in tissue engineering. Bioink is a crucial component in the 3D bioprinting process and is consists of biomaterials, cells, and growth factors. Current research on bioink formulations primarily uses animal-derived biomaterials for 3D bioprinting operations and soft tissue engineering, which possess challenges of batch-to-batch variability, immunogenicity, and microbial growth with aging.

In this study we aimed to investigate pharmaceutical polymers as biomaterials for hydrogel formulations and examine them for prospective bioink qualities.

Hydrogel formulations containing partially pregelatinized starch, sodium alginate along with either of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or polyvinyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol graft co-polymer or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose were assessed for tensile strength of thin films; the viscosity of hydrogels, the structural integrity of crosslinked scaffolds, and effects of moist heat sterilization on physical properties, chemical properties and microbial contaminations.

We found that thin films made out of hydrogels found to have tensile strength suitable for soft tissue engineering. Viscosity results meet workable ranges for extrusion-based bioprinting. Structural integrity revealed crosslinked scaffolds were able to withstand in culture medias for few days and then started to disintegrate demonstrated biodegradation patterns of diffrent formulations. The moist heat sterilization process eliminated microbial contaminations effectively without altering the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels.

We proved pharmaceutical polymers as biomaterials in hydrogel formulations that could be used as bioinks in future. These hydrogels has appropriate qualities for 3D bioprinting and soft tissue engineering. This study paves the way for clean bioprinting, with the possibility of formulating bioinks free from animal derived biomaterials.