Preparation and Characterization of the Hydrogel System N, O-Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Oxidized Xanthan Gum

3D bioprinting is a new technology used in medicine to create complex biomimetic structures for applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug testing. The selection of materials for the bio-ink, a printable formulation, plays an important role in optimizing the 3D bioprinting process in accordance with the research objectives. Polymers, especially hydrogels, produce bio-inks with fascinating properties that can be manipulated artificially. We propose a hydrogel system combining N, O-carboxymethyl chitosan (NOCC) with oxidized xanthan gum (OXG) with different volume ratios to improve the mechanical properties. We incorporated NOCC and OXG into hydrogels, and confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method. The change in the NOCC:OXG ratio affects the pore size, mechanical strength, and swelling of the hydrogel. NOCC/OXG hydrogel has a low endotoxin value and is not toxic to fibroblast cells. We recommend further studies to apply NOCC/OXG hydrogel in bio-ink.