The document introduces 3D bio-printing, highlighting its importance in creating tissue and organ implants from human cells, as well as its applications in drug discovery and reducing animal testing. It discusses various types of bio-printing methods—inkjet, extrusion, and laser bio-printing—along with their unique techniques and limitations. The document also addresses challenges such as vascularization and immune rejection in the field of 3D bio-printing.

1. INTRODUCTION TO
3D BIO-PRINTING
by,
HEMA PRIYA B
(BIOTECHNOLOGY)

2. Need of 3D Bio-printing
• Clinical Case:
- Tissue/Organ implants fabricated from
own body cells
• Pharmacy Case:
- Behavioral studies of tissue/cells
- Drug discovery
- Alternative to animal testing or reduce the
need for animal trials.

3. 3D Bio-printing
• Bio-printing refers to 3D printers which deposit
layers of biomaterial to build complex bodily
structures like skin, bones and even corneas.
• The requisite cells are taken from a patient or, if
this isn’t possible, adult stem cells can be used
and cultivated into a bio-ink to print an organic
object.
• These are typically held together through some
sort of dissolvable gel or collagen scaffold which
can support the cells and mould them into the
correct shape.

4. Types of 3D Bio-printing
1) Inkjet Bio-printing
2) Extrusion Bio-printing
3) Laser Bio-printing

5. 1. Inkjet Bio-printing
• Inkjet based bio-printing is a non-contact printing
technique in which droplets of dilute solutions are
dispensed, driven by thermal, piezoelectric, or micro-
valve processes.
• Inkjet bio-printing technology is based on the
conventional inkjet process used by desktop inkjet
printers, whereby individual droplets are used to
pattern a substrate.
• Cartilage and bone tissues, Neural tissues, cardiac and
vascular tissues, skin tissues and stem cells are
printed by inkjet bio-printing.
• Limitations:
- Low viscosity
- Bio-ink must solidify
- cell densities

6. 2. Extrusion Bio-printing
• Most commonly used bio-printed method.
• An ink is extruded through a printhead to build a
3D shape in a layer-by-layer manner.
• Extrusion bio-printing is driven by piston, screw, or
pneumatic pressure mechanisms.
• Highly viscous bio-inks can be printed through
micro-nozzle sizes.
• Bone tissues, Cartilage tissues, Periodontal tissues,
neural tissues, skin tissues, Corneal tissues, Cardiac
tissues and Muscular tissues can be printed by
extrusion bio-printing.
• Limitations:
– Inadequate control and resolution
– Cell deposition

7. 3. Laser Bio-printing
• The technique depends on a laser-induced
vaporization effect of a thin layer of gold/titanium
that coats the donor-slide.
• During vaporization, a bubble is created that propels
precursor material onto the receiver-slide.
• When applied to bioprinting, this technique is able to
achieve prints with excellent resolution (>20 µm)
and cell viability.
• Bone tissues, Skin tissues and Corneal Tissues can
be printed by laser bio-printing method.
• Limitations:
– Lower cellular viability
– Time consuming

8. Cell survival During printing
• Oxygen
• Growth factors
• Nutrients
• Temperature
are the factors helps to survival of cells during
3D printing.

9. Applications
• Now a days 3D Bio-printing is used
for,
–Tissue mimics for drug testing

10. Limitations
• Vascularization
• Immune rejection
• Biocompatibility