Improving Printability of Digital-Light-Processing 3D Bioprinting via Photoabsorber Pigment Adjustment

Abstract

Digital-light-processing (DLP) three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, which has a rapid printing speed and high precision, requires optimized biomaterial ink to ensure photocrosslinking for successful printing. However, optimization studies on DLP bioprinting have yet to sufficiently explore the measurement of light exposure energy and biomaterial ink absorbance controls to improve the printability. In this study, we synchronized the light wavelength of the projection base printer with the absorption wavelength of the biomaterial ink. In this paper, we provide a stepwise explanation of the challenges associated with unsynchronized absorption wavelengths and provide appropriate examples. In addition to biomaterial ink wavelength synchronization, we introduce photorheological measurements, which can provide optimized light exposure conditions. The photorheological measurements provide precise numerical data on light exposure time and, therefore, are an effective alternative to the expendable and inaccurate conventional measurement methods for light exposure energy. Using both photorheological measurements and bioink wavelength synchronization, we identified essential printability optimization conditions for DLP bioprinting that can be applied to various fields of biological sciences.