Medical News Observer

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have made advances in bioprinting 3D-engineered tissues. Bioprinting is a process of creating biological structures and tissues using cells and biopolymer. This study describes a type of bioprinting called digital light processing (DLP).

Current bioprinting techniques have challenges in achieving key requirements of high cell density, high cell viability, and fine fabrication resolution. Digital light processing–based 3D bioprinting suffers due to light scattering causing deterioration of bioprinting resolution. 

The researchers reduced the light-scattering effect tenfold using iodixanol, a new ingredient in the bioink, allowing them to print with high cell densities and high resolution. With the improved printing resolution mediated by iodixanol, a high cell density, pre-vascularized tissue with an overall size of 17 x 11 x 3.6 mm3 were fabricated.

Bioprinting has great potential for biomedical applications, including drug testing and development, organ transplants, regenerative medicine, personalized medicine, and disease modeling.

Ref:

• You S, Xiang Y, Hwang HH, et al. High cell density and high-resolution 3D bioprinting for fabricating vascularized tissues. Science Advances. 2023;9(8). doi:https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ade7923
• A New Technique Creates Greater Fidelity in Bioprinting Functional Human Tissues. Ucsd.edu. Published 2023. Accessed February 23, 2023. https://today.ucsd.edu/story/a-new-technique-creates-greater-fidelity-in-bioprinting-functional-human-tissues