Photoinhibiting via simultaneous photoabsorption and free-radical reaction for high-fidelity light-based bioprinting

• Published in: Nature communications 2023-05, Vol.14 (1), p.3063-3063, Article 3063
• Main Authors: He, Ning, Wang, Xiaonan, Shi, Liyang, Li, Jing, Mo, Lan, Chen, Feng, Huang, Yuting, Liu, Hairong, Zhu, Xiaolong, Zhu, Wei, Mao, Yiqi, Han, Xiaoxiao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 13/107; 14/19; 14/34; 14/63; 140/131; 140/58; 3-D printers; 639/301/54/2295; 639/301/923/1028; 639/638/298/54/2295; Accuracy; Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Bioprinting - methods; Cell proliferation; Fabrication; Free radicals; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - chemistry; Light; Light scattering; multidisciplinary; Photoabsorption; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Scaffolds; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Three dimensional printing; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38838-2

Light-based 3D bioprinting is now employed widely to fabricate geometrically complex constructs for various biomedical applications. However, the inherent light scattering defect creates significant challenges in patterning dilute hydrogels to form high-fidelity structures with fine-scale features. Herein, we introduce a photoinhibiting approach that can effectively suppress the light scattering effect via a mechanism of simultaneous photoabsorption and free-radical reaction. This biocompatible approach significantly improves the printing resolution (~1.2 - ~2.1 pixels depending on swelling) and shape fidelity (geometric error less than 5%), while minimising the costly trial-and-error procedures. The capability in patterning 3D complex constructs using different hydrogels is demonstrated by manufacturing various scaffolds featuring intricate multi-sized channels and thin-walled networks. Importantly, cellularised gyroid scaffolds (HepG2) are fabricated successfully, exhibiting high cell proliferation and functionality. The strategy established in this study promotes the printability and operability of light-based 3D bioprinting systems, allowing numerous new applications for tissue engineering. ‘Light-based bioprinting is employed in the fabrication of complex constructs but achieving high resolution remains challenging due to light scattering effects. Here, the authors develop a photoinhibiting additive which suppresses light scattering and demonstrate printing of functional scaffolds