Relationship between shear-thinning rheological properties of bioinks and bioprinting parameters

Abstract

Three-dimensional bioprinting is a technology in constant development, mainly due to its extraordinary potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine. It allows fabrication through the additive deposition of biochemical products, biological materials, and living cells for the generation of structures in bioengineering. There are various techniques and biomaterials or bioinks that are suitable for bioprinting. Their rheological properties are directly related to the quality of these processes. In this study, alginate-based hydrogels were prepared using CaCl2  as ionic crosslinking agent. Their rheological behavior was studied, and simulations of the bioprinting processes under predetermined conditions were carried out, looking for possible relationships between the rheological parameters and the variables used in the bioprinting processes. A clear linear relationship was found between the extrusion pressure and the flow consistency index rheological parameter, k, and between the extrusion time and the flow behavior index rheological parameter, n. This would allow simplification of the repetitive processes currently applied to optimize the extrusion pressure and dispensing head displacement speed, thereby helping to reduce the time and material used as well as to optimize the required bioprinting results.