Printability during projection-based 3D bioprinting

Kang Yu; Xinjie Zhang; Yuan Sun; Qing Gao; Jianzhong Fu; Xiujun Cai; Yong He

doi:10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.09.021

Printability during projection-based 3D bioprinting

Bioact Mater. 2021 Sep 21:11:254-267. doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.09.021. eCollection 2022 May.

Authors

Kang Yu¹, Xinjie Zhang^{2

3}, Yuan Sun^{1

4}, Qing Gao^{1

4}, Jianzhong Fu^{1

4}, Xiujun Cai^{2

3}, Yong He^{1

5

6}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
² Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China.
³ Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
⁶ Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058 China.

Abstract

Since projection-based 3D bioprinting (PBP) could provide high resolution, it is well suited for printing delicate structures for tissue regeneration. However, the low crosslinking density and low photo-crosslinking rate of photocurable bioink make it difficult to print fine structures. Currently, an in-depth understanding of the is lacking. Here, a research framework is established for the analysis of printability during PBP. The gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-based bioink is used as an example, and the printability is systematically investigated. We analyze the photo-crosslinking reactions during the PBP process and summarize the specific requirements of bioinks for PBP. Two standard quantized models are established to evaluate 2D and 3D printing errors. Finally, the better strategies for bioprinting five typical structures, including solid organs, vascular structures, nerve conduits, thin-wall scaffolds, and micro needles, are presented.

Keywords: 3D bioprinting; GelMA bioink; Projection-based printing (PBP); Rheological analysis.