Table 1 Characteristics of bioprinting processes
From: Recent advances in bioprinting techniques: approaches, applications and future prospects
Biomaterials | Cell viability/resolution | Bioprinting speed | Cost | Advantages | Disadvantages | References | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Inkjet-based bioprinting | Low-viscosity suspension of living cells; biomolecules; growth factors | ~90 % 20–100 µm | Fast (<10,000 droplets/s) | Low | Wide availability; low cost; high resolution; high printing speed; ability to introduce concentration gradients in 3D constructs | Poor vertical structure clogging characteristics; thermal and mechanical stress to cells; limited printable materials (liquid only) | |
Pressure-assisted bioprinting | Hydrogel; melt; cells; proteins and ceramic materials; solutions, pastes, or dispersions of low to high viscosity; PLGA; tricalcium phosphate (TCP); collagen and chitosan; collagen-alginate-silica composites coated with HA; and agarose with gelatin | 40–80 % 200 µm | Slow | Medium | Numerous materials that can be printed with any dimensions; mild conditions (room temperature); use of cellular spheroids; direct incorporation of cells; and homogenous distribution of cells | Limited mechanical stiffness; critical timing of gelation time; specific matching of the densities of the material and the liquid medium to preserve shapes; low resolution and viability | |
Laser-assisted bioprinting | Hydrogel, media, cells, proteins and ceramic materials of varying viscosity | >95 % >20 µm | Medium | High | Nozzle-free, noncontact process; cells are printed with high activity and high resolution; high control of ink droplets and precise delivery | High cost; cumbersome and time consuming; requires a metal film and thus is subject to metallic particle contamination | |
Stereolithography | Light-sensitive polymer materials; curable acrylics and epoxies | >90 % ~1.2–200 µm | Fast (<40,000 mm/s) | Low | Solid freeform and nozzle-free technology; highest fabrication accuracy; compatibility with an increasing number of materials; light-sensitive hydrogels can be printed layer-by-layer | Applicable to photopolymers only; lack of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers; harmful effects from residual toxic photo-curing reagents; possibility of harm to DNA and human skin by UV | [45] |