Speaker
Description
Introducing Optical Fiber-Assisted Bioprinting (OFAB) as Novel 3D Bioprinting Method
Maximilian Pfeiffle, Alessandro Cianciosi, Tomasz Jüngst
Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
Introduction: To accelerate scientific progress in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, new accessible 3D biofabrication methods must be developed. Optical fiber-assisted bioprinting (OFAB) is such a 3D printing method and was introduced by our team for cell free work.[1] It offers a cost-effective, fast, flexible, and easy-to-use approach to bioprinting with a variety of bioresins, including non-transparent ones. The development and optimization of OFAB as a biofabrication method shown in this contribution presents new opportunities for the free-form creation of intricate 3D structures.
Methods: In OFAB, an optical fiber coupled to a light-emitting diode is used to generate a locally confined area of light intensity high enough to crosslink and solidify photoresins in a defined area around the fiber tip. The size and width of this area are controlled by adding a photoabsorber to the resin and by process parameters. Moving the fiber above or within a vat of resin enables the generation of 2.5D and 3D structures, as the material solidifies along the path of the moving fiber tip, enabling freeform 3D biofabrication. To verify the capabilities of the OFAB platform, resolution is measured using different setups with various optical fibers and resin formulations. Additionally, the cytocompatibility of these resin formulations is evaluated.
Results: This study presents the latest OFAB platform setup and demonstrates its capabilities and versatility. It focuses on identifying the ideal setup and printing parameters. Furthermore, various bioresins, including both biological and synthetic materials are being developed and systematically screened to achieve high resolution and cytocompatibility. While stiffer materials tend to improve print resolution, they are generally less favorable for cell proliferation. To overcome this limitation, the thermoreactive properties of methacrylated gelatin are utilized. Cooled gelatin derivatives provide a stiff and stable support structure during printing, while offering a soft, cell-friendly matrix under in vitro conditions post-print.
Discussion: OFAB offers a highly efficient, reproducible, and versatile method for biofabrication. The establishment of 3D OFAB may represent a significant advancement in tissue engineering and biomimetic scaffold fabrication by making light-based bioprinting more accessible. Additionally, various bioinks are under development to provide a range of cell-friendly formulations, further enhancing the applicability of OFAB across different fields of research.
References: [1] Cianciosi, A.; Pfeiffle, M.; Wohlfahrt, P.; Nurnberger, S.; Jungst, T. Optical fiber-assisted printing: A platform technology for straightforward photopolymer resins patterning and freeform 3d printing. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024, 11 (32), e2403049.
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