PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION

2025

Digital Light Processing 3D Printing of Dual Crosslinked Meniscal Scaffolds with Enhanced Physical and Biological Properties

Menon A, Elkhoury K, et al.

Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials

New York University Abu Dhabi, New York University

RESEARCH SUMMARY
This study presents a digital light processing (DLP) 3D-printed meniscal scaffold fabricated from a dual-crosslinked gelatin methacryloyl–tannic acid (GelMA–TA) hydrogel with tunable mechanical, antioxidant, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties. The dual network structure achieved compressive moduli closely matching native meniscal tissue (~230 kPa) while maintaining high cell viability (>90%) and chondrogenic differentiation capacity. The GelMA–TA scaffold also promoted M2a macrophage polarization, indicating its immunomodulatory potential for tissue repair. This multifunctional scaffold demonstrates promise for patient-specific meniscal repair and regeneration.

CELLSCALE INSTRUMENT USED

UniVert

Compressive mechanical testing of cylindrical GelMA and GelMA–TA constructs was performed using a CellScale UniVert mechanical testing system (100 N load cell, Ontario, Canada) at a strain rate of 0.7 mm min⁻¹. Young’s modulus was calculated from the 5–15% strain region of stress–strain curves. TA crosslinking increased the compressive modulus to 235 ± 9 kPa, closely matching the native meniscus (~230 kPa), confirming the UniVert’s role in quantifying scaffold load-bearing capability.
AUTHORS

Abhay Menon; Kamil Elkhoury; Amer Zahraa; Jiranuwat Sapudom; Zerina Rahic; Kristin C. Gunsalus; Jeremy Teo; Nikhil Gupta; Sanjairaj Vijayavenkataraman.

PUBLICATION DETAILS
JOURNAL

Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials

YEAR

2025

INSTITUTIONS

New York University Abu Dhabi, New York University

COUNTRIES

United Arab Emirates, United States

INSTRUMENT USED

UniVert

TESTING METHODS

Compression TestingHydrated and Temperature Controlled Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

Cartilage and Meniscus MechanicsCell Laden HydrogelsHydrogel Mechanical TestingMusculoskeletal Tissue Engineering & MechanicsScaffold Mechanical Testing

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