Microfluidics: A New Layer of Control for Extrusion-Based 3D Printing

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Microfluidics

Background:

• 3D printing is increasingly used in various fields, including biology.
• Extrusion-based 3D printing is suitable for bioprinting due to its cell-friendly nature and multimaterial capabilities.
• Current bioprinting methods require higher resolution and complexity for biologically relevant constructs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate how microfluidics can enhance extrusion-based 3D printers.
• To expand the applications of 3D printing through microfluidic integration.
• To improve control over deposited biomaterials for advanced 3D printing.

Main Methods:

• Integrating micromixers into print heads for in-situ material mixing.
• Incorporating micro-concentrators into print heads to increase cell density.
• Implementing microfluidic switching and flow focusing for enhanced resolution.

Main Results:

• Micromixers enable the deposition of new polymeric, composite, and tailored biomaterials.
• Micro-concentrators significantly increase cell concentration in bioprinting.
• Microfluidic integration improves resolution and control in 3D printing.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidic functions can be readily integrated into extrusion 3D printers.
• These enhancements broaden the scope of 3D printing applications, particularly in bioprinting.
• The study paves the way for more complex 3D printing applications and new prospects.