Hydrogel Extrusion Speed Measurements for the Optimization of Bioprinting Parameters
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is the use of computer-controlled transfer processes for assembling bioinks (cell clusters or materials loaded with cells) into structures of prescribed 3D organization. The correct bioprinting parameters ensure a fast and accurate bioink deposition without exposin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Gels |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/2/103 |
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| author | Stelian Arjoca Florina Bojin Monica Neagu Andreea Păunescu Adrian Neagu Virgil Păunescu |
| author_facet | Stelian Arjoca Florina Bojin Monica Neagu Andreea Păunescu Adrian Neagu Virgil Păunescu |
| author_sort | Stelian Arjoca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is the use of computer-controlled transfer processes for assembling bioinks (cell clusters or materials loaded with cells) into structures of prescribed 3D organization. The correct bioprinting parameters ensure a fast and accurate bioink deposition without exposing the cells to harsh conditions. This study seeks to optimize pneumatic extrusion-based bioprinting based on hydrogel flow rate and extrusion speed measurements. We measured the rate of the hydrogel flow through a cylindrical nozzle and used non-Newtonian hydrodynamics to fit the results. From the videos of free-hanging hydrogel strands delivered from a stationary print head, we inferred the extrusion speed, defined as the speed of advancement of newly formed strands. Then, we relied on volume conservation to evaluate the extrudate swell ratio. The theoretical analysis enabled us to compute the extrusion speed for pressures not tested experimentally as well as the printing speed needed to deposit hydrogel filaments of a given diameter. Finally, the proposed methodology was tested experimentally by analyzing the morphology of triple-layered square-grid hydrogel constructs printed at various applied pressures while the printing speeds matched the corresponding extrusion speeds. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that preliminary measurements and theoretical analyses can simplify the search for the optimal bioprinting parameters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:31:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d729f4290714fd599e6fade77b706fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:31:34Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d729f4290714fd599e6fade77b706fd2024-02-23T15:17:27ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612024-01-0110210310.3390/gels10020103Hydrogel Extrusion Speed Measurements for the Optimization of Bioprinting ParametersStelian Arjoca0Florina Bojin1Monica Neagu2Andreea Păunescu3Adrian Neagu4Virgil Păunescu5Department of Functional Sciences, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Functional Sciences, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Functional Sciences, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaCarol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Functional Sciences, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Functional Sciences, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaThree-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is the use of computer-controlled transfer processes for assembling bioinks (cell clusters or materials loaded with cells) into structures of prescribed 3D organization. The correct bioprinting parameters ensure a fast and accurate bioink deposition without exposing the cells to harsh conditions. This study seeks to optimize pneumatic extrusion-based bioprinting based on hydrogel flow rate and extrusion speed measurements. We measured the rate of the hydrogel flow through a cylindrical nozzle and used non-Newtonian hydrodynamics to fit the results. From the videos of free-hanging hydrogel strands delivered from a stationary print head, we inferred the extrusion speed, defined as the speed of advancement of newly formed strands. Then, we relied on volume conservation to evaluate the extrudate swell ratio. The theoretical analysis enabled us to compute the extrusion speed for pressures not tested experimentally as well as the printing speed needed to deposit hydrogel filaments of a given diameter. Finally, the proposed methodology was tested experimentally by analyzing the morphology of triple-layered square-grid hydrogel constructs printed at various applied pressures while the printing speeds matched the corresponding extrusion speeds. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that preliminary measurements and theoretical analyses can simplify the search for the optimal bioprinting parameters.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/2/103extrusion-based bioprintingpneumatic extrusionhydrogel flow rateprinting speed |
| spellingShingle | Stelian Arjoca Florina Bojin Monica Neagu Andreea Păunescu Adrian Neagu Virgil Păunescu Hydrogel Extrusion Speed Measurements for the Optimization of Bioprinting Parameters Gels extrusion-based bioprinting pneumatic extrusion hydrogel flow rate printing speed |
| title | Hydrogel Extrusion Speed Measurements for the Optimization of Bioprinting Parameters |
| title_full | Hydrogel Extrusion Speed Measurements for the Optimization of Bioprinting Parameters |
| title_fullStr | Hydrogel Extrusion Speed Measurements for the Optimization of Bioprinting Parameters |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrogel Extrusion Speed Measurements for the Optimization of Bioprinting Parameters |
| title_short | Hydrogel Extrusion Speed Measurements for the Optimization of Bioprinting Parameters |
| title_sort | hydrogel extrusion speed measurements for the optimization of bioprinting parameters |
| topic | extrusion-based bioprinting pneumatic extrusion hydrogel flow rate printing speed |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/2/103 |
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