Stimulus-responsive deformation mechanisms of GMHA-based hydrogel systems for 4D printing

Tissue engineering often encounters with invasive issue between biomedical devices and host system where innovative solution has been developed to minimize the adverse effect of material while providing engineered cues to the target site. 4D scaffolds produced with additive manufacturing technology has been suggested as one of the feasible solutions because of its great compatibility to cell and immunity system, with the addition of stimuli-responsive mechanism that enables dynamic conformations to adapt environmental variables in human body. Inspired by nature derived shape-morphing system, studies had been conducted to print GMHA based composite hydrogel architectures along with the introduction of cellulose microfibril that provided anisotropic swelling behavior to the construct. Shape transformation can then be induced and programmed theoretically with mathematical approach determined by parameters such as swelling degree, mechanical strength and print path configurations. Validated with experimental approaches, understanding of parameter sensitivity towards the conformation outcome can then be established and investigated in order to design suitable system for various needs with predictable manner.Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering