Physics / mechanism
Layer-by-layer deposition of cell-laden bioinks to construct 3D tissue constructs. Core modalities: extrusion-based (pneumatic or screw-driven, resolution ~200–500 µm), inkjet (droplet volumes 1–100 pL, resolution ~50 µm), stereolithography/DLP (photocrosslinking, ~25 µm XY), and laser-assisted (LIFT, ~10 µm, but low throughput). Key parameters: print fidelity, cell viability post-deposition (target >85%), shear stress during extrusion, bioink rheology (viscosity 30–6×10⁷ mPa·s depending on modality), and post-print maturation time. Current SoTA: organoid-integrated constructs, vascularized scaffolds via sacrificial templating (FRESH technique), and perfusable cardiac/liver tissue with ~200 µm channel resolution. Commercial leaders: Cellink (now Bico), Allevi, Organovo, Aspect Biosystems.
Competitive landscape
Competing approaches include organ-on-chip (microfluidics-based, better throughput for drug screening, weaker structural complexity), scaffold-free spheroid fusion (no bioink required, slower assembly), and decellularized ECM repopulation (better native matrix, no geometric control). Bioprinting competes directly with these for pharma tissue-model contracts and longer-term transplant pipelines.
Companies using
Connected ideas
Sources
Frontier (open questions)
- To be added.