Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the composition and process for the production of an ultra-strong, biocompatible, electroconductive, and stretchable hydrogel, which comprises: a step (a) of physical or chemical modification of natural polymers e.g., preparation of silk nanofiber and double methacrylation of gelatin; a step (b) of graphene oxide (GO) carboxylation; a step (c) of carbodiimidation between methacrylated natural polymers of step (a) and carboxylated GO of step (b); and a step (d) of three dimensional (3D) bioprinting of step (c) with/without silk nanofiber. It was found that these steps in this disclosure give rise to a biocompatible hydrogel with high mechanical strength in the range of load-bearing soft tissue such as tendon and heart as opposed to conventional hydrogels.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the composition and process for the production of an ultra-strong, biocompatible, electroconductive, and stretchable hydrogel, which comprises: a step (a) of physical or chemical modification of natural polymers e.g., preparation of silk nanofiber and double methacrylation of gelatin; a step (b) of graphene oxide (GO) carboxylation; a step (c) of carbodiimidation between methacrylated natural polymers of step (a) and carboxylated GO of step (b); and a step (d) of three dimensional (3D) bioprinting of step (c) with/without silk nanofiber. It was found that these steps in this disclosure give rise to a biocompatible hydrogel with high mechanical strength in the range of load-bearing soft tissue such as tendon and heart as opposed to conventional hydrogels.