Quantitative Assessment of Hydrogel Printability in Extrusion Bioprinting

TL;DR

This paper reviews how hydrogel properties affect 3D bioprinting outcomes, offering a framework to improve print quality and cell viability.

Contribution

The paper introduces a quantitative framework linking hydrogel properties to bioprinting performance and proposes an integrated assessment system.

Findings

Key rheological features like shear-thinning and yield stress significantly influence extrusion and shape retention.

Advanced models such as Herschel-Bulkley help predict flow dynamics and wall shear stress during printing.

An integrated system combining material and process parameters can guide bioink design and printing optimization.

Abstract

Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting enables the fabrication of complex tissue structures, yet achieving both high structural fidelity and cell viability remains challenging due to complex bioink rheology and parameter interplay. This review presents a quantitative framework linking hydrogel properties to printing outcomes. Key rheological features—shear-thinning, yield stress, reversible gel-sol transition, self-healing, and creep resistance—are examined for their roles in extrusion and shape retention. We also evaluate printing accuracy using metrics such as filament uniformity and multilayer stability. Advanced models, including Herschel-Bulkley and extrusion pressure models, correlate material parameters with flow dynamics and predict critical factors like wall shear stress. Finally, we propose an integrated assessment system combining material properties, process parameters, and structural fidelity to guide bioink design and printing optimization, advancing the field of hydrogel bioprinting.

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