“The hydrogels must be able to interact with living skin cells,” Kleinschek continues. “These cells not only have to survive, but also have to be able to grow and multiply.”
The scientist emphasizes that the starting point for stable and 3D-printable structures are hydrogel formulations developed at TU Graz. These, according to Kleinschek, are characterized by their high water content – a trait that creates ideal conditions for integration and cell growth. However, this same high water content also makes the structures unstable, requiring special mechanical and chemical methods to keep them firm and intact.