Applications of Bioprinter Technology

A bioprinter is a device that can assemble biological materials or cell units according to the principles of additive manufacturing, driven by digital three-dimensional models, to create products such as medical devices, tissue engineering scaffolds, and organ tissues.

Before Bioprinting: Using software to reconstruct a three-dimensional structure from flat medical images, followed by slicing and uploading to the 3D printer. Then, the cells to be cultivated are separated and amplified, completing the preparation before printing. The cells are mixed with liquid biological materials such as hydrogels to create bio-ink.

During Bioprinting: The bio-ink will be placed in the ink cartridge of the bioprinter and printed sequentially according to the patient’s medical imaging data.

The extrusion dual-head bioprinter developed by Professor Wang Jinwu and Academician Dai Kerong’s team at the 3D Printing Center of the Ninth People’s Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine is a small-sized desktop bioprinter that can be used in cell rooms, clean cabinets, and other locations. This printer uses pneumatic feeding, is equipped with low-temperature, room-temperature, and high-temperature print heads, and employs a magnetic quick-installation method for the print heads, making replacement convenient. It can also be modified according to different needs, such as adding UV lights or replacing low-temperature print heads. This printer features easy operation and personalized design.

In drug screening, the required sample size is very large, and using ordinary bioprinters is time-consuming and labor-intensive. The high-throughput bioprinter solves this problem, as it can print multiple samples simultaneously. The high-throughput bioprinter developed by Professor Wang Jinwu and Academician Dai Kerong’s team at the 3D Printing Center of the Ninth People’s Hospital can have 24 print heads, allowing it to print up to 24 samples at once, supporting simultaneous printing of different materials, and features high resolution and sample reproducibility.

In the repair of bone defects, ordinary bioprinters need to print first on their printing platform and then transplant to the bone defect site. This method not only increases the risk of surgical infection but also increases time costs. The in-situ bioprinting robot based on the UR5 robotic arm developed by Professor Wang Jinwu and Academician Dai Kerong’s team can print biological scaffolds at the site of bone defects during surgery. The designer only needs to scan the bone defect site, design a biological scaffold, and transmit it to the upper computer; the robot can then print during the surgery, thereby reducing risk.