Scientists enhance nutrient supply in 3D printed bioinks

Researchers at the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute in Reutlingen, TU Darmstadt, and Black Drop Biodrucker GmbH have developed a new type of bioink that improves the transport of nutrients in 3D printed tissue. The research is published in the journal Biofabrication.

“With a diameter of 5–10 µm, these fibers are in the range of blood capillaries and are the significant advance in our bioink,” said Dr. Hanna Hartmann, Head of Division at the NMI and inventor in the joint patent.

Until now, the transport of nutrients in 3D printed tissue has been a major problem. “The fibers now measurably improve this transport. The particularly exciting finding for us is that they don’t even have to be hollow on the inside,” said Jannik Stadler, Site Manager of Black Drop Biodrucker.

This bio-ink also has particularly advantageous properties, including its mechanical strength and the fact that it swells less. Annabelle Neuhäusler, a doctoral student at the Institute for Printing Machines and Printing Processes at TU Darmstadt, was able to demonstrate this in the joint publication.

In the future, these improved bioinks could be used to produce tissue models for pharmaceutical research. This could eliminate the need for animal testing and allow patient-specific active ingredients to be tested. Another application lies in the area of regenerative medicine. In addition to increasing nutrient diffusion, fiber integration helps to improve the mechanical properties of bioinks. This is particularly important for surgical applications, where handling, dimensional stability, and primarily strength play a key role.