Laponite-reinforced conductive GelMA–-Ionic liquid nanocomposite hydrogels for high-fidelity extrusion printing and localized neurotrophic delivery

The development of advanced hydrogel systems capable of precise three-dimensional (3D) printing and controlled therapeutic delivery is critical for next-generation biofabrication strategies. In this study, we present a laponite-reinforced gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)/ionic liquid hydrogel engineered to simultaneously improve printability and sustained release of bioactive molecules. The incorporation of laponite nanoparticles markedly enhances rheological characteristics, including viscosity, shear-thinning behavior, and structural fidelity, facilitating high-resolution extrusion-based 3D printing. Specifically, the laponite concentration was limited to 1% w/v to preserve the soft mechanical environment (<3 kPa) essential for neural tissue while sufficiently improving rheological properties for processing. Beyond its mechanical and processing advantages, the hydrogel enables the prolonged release of retinoic acid and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, promoting the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of N2A cells. This dual-functional platform demonstrates significant potential for the fabrication of complex, cell-instructive scaffolds, offering a versatile approach for applications where structural precision and localized drug delivery are essential.