3D bioprinting technology and equipment based on microvalve control

Biotechnol Bioeng. 2024 Dec;121(12):3768-3781. doi: 10.1002/bit.28850. Epub 2024 Sep 17.

Abstract

3D bioprinting technology is widely used in biomedical fields such as tissue regeneration and constructing pathological model. The prevailing printing technique is extrusion-based bioprinting. In this printing method, the bioink needs to meet both printability and functionality, which are often conflicting requirements. Therefore, this study has developed an innovative microvalve-based equipment, incorporating components such as pressure control, a three-dimensional motion platform, and microvalve. Here, we present a droplet-based method for constructing complex three-dimensional structures. By leveraging the rapid switching characteristics of the microvalve, this equipment can achieve precise printing of bio-materials with viscosities as low as 10mPa·s, significantly expanding the biofabrication window for bioinks. This technology is of great significance for 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering and lays a solid foundation for the construction of complex artificial organ tissues.

Keywords: biofabrication window; bio‐3D printing; extrusion bioprinting; microvalve.

MeSH terms

  • Bioprinting* / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional*
  • Tissue Engineering*