How to protect cells during bioprinting into a support bath without harming print quality

What is it about?

3D bioprinting could help us fabricate transformative medical technologies including replacement organs made from a patient's own cells or tissue mimics that we can use to test new medical treatments. In the most common bioprinting techniques, cells travel through a nozzle onto a platform or into a support bath. Cells can be damaged as they travel through the nozzle, but there are a few known strategies that can protect cells while they're in the nozzle: a larger nozzle, a tapered nozzle, a slower print speed, or a lower ink viscosity. However, we find that some of these strategies can also lead to lower quality prints. Using simulations, we evaluate the trade-offs between print quality and cell survival.

Featured Image

Photo by Ali Hajiluyi on Unsplash

Photo by Ali Hajiluyi on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This paper provides recommendations to the bioprinting community about how to protect cells while still achieving high quality prints. In most cases, a slower print speed and lower ink and support viscosity will protect cells without impacting print quality.