Bio-ink

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Bio-inks are materials used to produce engineered/artificial live tissue using 3D printing. These inks are mostly composed of the cells that are being used, but are often used in tandem with additional materials that envelope the cells. The combination of cells and usually biopolymer gels are defined as a bio-ink. They must meet certain characteristics, including such as rheological, mechanical, biofunctional and biocompatibility properties, among others. Using bio-inks provides a high reproducibility and precise control over the fabricated constructs in an automated manner.^[1] These inks are considered as one of the most advanced tools for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM).^[2]

Like the thermoplastics that are often utilized in traditional 3D printing, bio-inks can be extruded through printing nozzles or needles into filaments that can maintain its shape fidelity after deposition. However, bio-ink are sensitive to the normal 3D printing processing conditions.

Differences from traditional 3D printing materials

• Printed at a much lower temperature (37 °C or below)
• Mild cross-linking conditions
• Natural derivation
• Bioactive
• Cell manipulatable