Title: Low-Cost, Open-Source, and High-Throughput 3D Bioprinting: Multi-Cellular Spheroid Tissue Fabrication

Abstract: Direct ink writing is a 3D printing method that is compatible with a wide range of structural, elastic, and living materials. Although direct ink writing technologies continue to expand into physics, engineering, and biology laboratories, they still suffer critical drawbacks regarding accessibility and scalability in producing high-resolution structures. First, the cost, large footprint, and proprietary hardware and software ecosystems of commercial systems hamper widespread adoption. Second, when bioprinting living tissues, sparse and single-cell suspension inks often fail to adequately recapitulate key physiological characteristics. Finally, standard single-nozzle, single-material extruders are not suitable for high-throughput manufacturing.

In my defense, I will introduce a compact, low-cost, multimaterial, and high-throughput direct ink writing 3D printer platform, called Printess, with detailed assembly files and instructions provided freely online. In contrast to existing low-cost 3D printers and bioprinters, which typically rely on modified off-the-shelf plastic 3D printers, Printess is designed from scratch, offering a lower cost and full customizability. To demonstrate the function and versatility of Printess, I present active mixing printing of cell-based bioinks, high-throughput production of auxetic lattices using multimaterial multinozzle 3D printheads, and a high-toughness, photocurable hydrogel for fabrication of heart valves. Moreover, I use Printess to demonstrate the effectiveness of printing wholly cellular spheroid bioinks for stem cell and cardiac tissue engineering. Finally, I introduce a novel gradient-producing multinozzle printhead compatible with Printess that can improve high-throughput tissue engineering assays across numerous variables, including cell type and extracellular matrix composition. To date, dozens of labs across the U.S. and around the world have used this simple-to-build printing platform, which has been helping to stimulate a vibrant open-source biomaker community of engineers, biologists, and educators.

Please contact Leyre Caracuel for the Zoom link