The DIYer’s guide to 3D bioprinting

3D printing has come a long way since its introduction in the 1980s. Today, everything from car parts to houses can be 3D printed — even human tissue can be made with 3D bioprinters.

The popularity of the digital light processing (DLP) bioprinter is rapidly growing due to its short printing times, relatively low manufacturing costs, and decently high resolutions. To further increase the reach of these DLP bioprinters, Garciamendez-Mijares et al. present a review of design considerations for these machines. They aim to enable people with a limited engineering background to make their own DLP bioprinters.

“We hope that this review will serve as the reference for both rookies and experienced users of DLP bioprinters who intend to build their own printers that can be customized for specific applications,” Zhang said.

The paper considers all aspects of creating a DLP bioprinter, from optical and electronics systems to the software needed to run a bioprinter. A discussion of materials is also presented, along with the best practices and maintenance skills required for a DIY DLP bioprinter.

The paper also highlights future potential applications for DLP bioprinters, including uses in personalized medicine. The authors hope the review will stimulate growth in the technology by encouraging more people to create new customized DLP bioprinters that could lead to new advances in bioprinting.

“DLP bioprinters allow the production of sophisticated tissue structures at relatively fast speeds,” said author Yu Shrike Zhang. “I imagine these bioprinters will allow the creation of complex human tissues for a range of translational applications in drug discovery and eventually, regenerative medicine.”

Source: “Design considerations for digital light processing bioprinters,” by Carlos Ezio Garciamendez-Mijares, Francisco Javier Aguilar, Pavel Hernandez, Xiao Kuang, Mauricio Gonzalez, Vanessa Ortiz, Ricardo A. Riesgo, David S. Rendon Ruiz, Victoria Abril Manjarrez Rivera, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Francisco Lugo Mestre, Penelope Ceron Castillo, Abraham Perez, Lourdes Monserrat Cruz, Khoon S. Lim, and Yu Shrike Zhang, Applied Physics Reviews (2024). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0187558 .