Development of a 3D Bioprinted Alginate-Gelatin Hydrogel Scaffold Loaded with Calcium Phosphates for Dental Pulp Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Dental pulp restoration using hydrogel is an innovative approach that offers enhanced biocompatibility and regenerative potential. Hydrogels, with their three-dimensional structure and ability to mimic the natural ExtraCellular Matrix (ECM), show a favorable environment for regenerating damaged pulp tissue. Alginate and gelatin were combined to form the hydrogel matrix. CaPs were added at 0 wt, 2 wt, 4 wt, and 6 wt to investigate the effects on the hydrogel's properties and potential for dental pulp regeneration. Characterization techniques included X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to analyze the morphological, and surface properties of the alginate-gelatin-CaP hydrogels. Cell activity and viability were assessed using the MTT assay. The mechanical properties of the alginate-gelatin hydrogel samples containing 0, 2, 4, and 6 wt CaPs were evaluated using finite element analysis. Machine learning (ML) techniques were employed to model the relationship between the CaP content and the hydrogel's compressive, tensile, and viscoelastic behaviors, enabling the prediction of optimal CaP loading for desired mechanical characteristics. The present study utilized ML techniques to investigate the interrelationships among various parameters and forecast their corresponding effect. Specifically, ML of linearalgorithms were employed to estimate the pH change, degradation, weight gain, and initial diameter based on fluctuations in weight fraction, compressive strength, and porosity. of regression analysis, which confirmed the model's reliability. The results showed that