20.500.12556/DKUM-96320 3D printed fibroblast-laden alginate-cellulose scaffolds support extracellular matrix formation and angiogenic growth factor secretion Effective microvascular tissue engineering requires fibroblasts that remain phenotypically stable and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and growth factors relevant for vascularization. This study evaluated 3D printed hydrogels based on sodium alginate (ALG) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to assess their ability to sustain fibroblast phenotype, ECM deposition, and angiogenic growth factor secretion during long-term culture. Seven formulations – including one with nanofibrillated cellulose – were compared by encapsulating fibroblasts and crosslinking with CaCl₂ or SrCl₂. All scaffolds were printable and exhibited comparable degradation profiles. Mechanical testing indicated stable compressive response, with Sr2+-crosslinked hydrogels generally showing higher apparent compressive modulus, while Ca2+-crosslinked scaffolds supported slightly higher cell viability. Encapsulated fibroblasts retained their phenotype for 30 days, evidenced by steadily increasing collagen I/III and fibronectin deposition, alongside sustained expression of specific fibroblast markers. After 30 days, all groups produced comparable levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), with one formulation yielding a significantly higher FGF-2 output. This multiparametric study demonstrates that scaffold composition and crosslinker chemistry influence fibroblast phenotype maintenance, ECM deposition, and growth factor secretion. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic, 30-day screening of ALG-CMC hydrogels – tuned by polymer content, NFC addition, and Ca2+/Sr2+ crosslinking – specifically for their ability to sustain fibroblast phenotype, extracellular matrix deposition, and growth factor secretion, providing design considerations to guide bioink development for microvascular models. 3D bioprinting alginate cellulose skin fibroblast microvasculature angiogenesis true true true Elsevier Angleški jezik Angleški jezik Znanstveno delo 2025-12-18 09:08:27 2025-12-18 09:25:45 2025-12-19 03:18:33 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 Str. 1-17 št. članka 148701 Letn. 332 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2025-10-29 2025-07-03 2025-10-31 60 256727043 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.148701 1879-0003 RAZ_Vajda_Jernej_2025.pdf RAZ_Vajda_Jernej_2025.pdf 1 11F55FA7A9957E5309243D009264149B fef7d504d09a3086eb349b33007adb67c67769c285eb9559cfca484e9902acc1 e1b4d4f0-dbea-11f0-af12-00155d580e02 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=201528 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.148701 0 0ee9291b-dbeb-11f0-af12-00155d580e02 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=201529 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014181302509258X?via%3Dihub 1 bfe31c35-dbe8-11f0-af12-00155d580e02 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=201527 Medicinska fakulteta Fakulteta za kemijo in kemijsko tehnologijo Fakulteta za strojništvo 0 0 0