Control of Nanoparticle Release Kinetics from 3D Printed Hydrogel Scaffolds

The convergence of biofabrication with nanotechnology is largely unexplored but enables geometrical control of cell‐biomaterial arrangement combined with controlled drug delivery and release. As a step towards integration of these two fields of research, this study demonstrates that modulation of electrostatic nanoparticle–polymer and nanoparticle–nanoparticle interactions can be used for tuning nanoparticle release kinetics from 3D printed hydrogel scaffolds. This generic strategy can be used for spatiotemporal control of the release kinetics of nanoparticulate drug vectors in biofabricated constructs. Released in print: Formulations of positively and negatively charged mesoporous silica nanoparticles or spherical gold nanoparticles with a hydrogel bioink were used for biofabrication. Negatively charged nanoparticles are released rapidly and positively charged nanoparticles slowly. This generic principle may allow nanoparticles to be used in biofabrication for spatiotemporal control of drug release.