The aim of this project is to create a cartilage model by designing and printing a scaffold seeded with mesenchymal stem cells that could potentially be differentiated into chondrocytes.

Articular cartilage injury is an urgent issue that both athletes and seniors must face. Without any intervention or treatment, chondral and osteochondral defects have a great potential developing into osteoarthritis. 3D printing cartilage with an alginate and gelatin-based bio-ink is promising method to repairing the cartilage surface, even for large defects found in osteoarthritic patients. Three type of hydrogel bio-inks were pitched. The combination alginate and gelatin bio-ink was chosen for print development due to its feasibility and low cost. Various print conditions were trialed to determine the optimal conditions that gave the highest fidelity. The morphology and viability of the cells was observed via optical and fluorescence microscopy. Shear viscosity and loss and storage moduli with a frequency sweep were graphed.