This study aimed to evaluate the printability and biological performance of an alginate-carrageenan blend for applications in tissue bioengineering. A preliminary screening of different polymer proportions (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% w/v) was conducted to assess diffusion rate, filament dispersion, and overall printability. The optimal concentration was then characterized rheologically and used to fabricate 3D constructs with an EnvisionTEC 3D Bioplotter. Scaffold morphology was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For biological evaluation, bovine ovaries (n = 2) were obtained from a local slaugh-terhouse, and stromal cells were isolated with collagenase. Cells at passage 4 were used for assays. Indirect cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT, and cell adhesion on the scaffold was analyzed using Hoechst 33342 staining and SEM. The redox profile was measured through malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite (NO₂⁻), and glutathione (GSH) quantification. The 5% blend demonstrated superior printability and viscoelastic behavior suitable for extrusion-based bioprinting, showing favorable rheological properties characterized by a predominance of the storage modulus over the loss modulus (G' > G″). The scaffold sup-ported initial stromal cell adhesion, showed no cytotoxic effects, and maintained an ade-quate redox balance. In conclusion, the alginate-carrageenan scaffold exhibited favorable physicochemical and biological properties, indicating its potential for future applications in tissue biofabrication.
Martins et al. (Fri,) studied this question.