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A Quantitative Printability Framework for Programmable Assembly of Pre-Vascular Patterns via Laser-Induced Forward
Cécile Bosmans1, Núria Ginés Rodriguez2,3, Ulisses Jesús Gutiérrez Hernández4
1Department of BioEngineering Technologies, Faculty of Science and Technology, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|November 22, 2025
Summary
Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) enables precise cell patterning for creating organized vascular networks in engineered tissues. This method addresses limitations in current biofabrication, improving tissue models for research and regenerative medicine.
Area of Science:
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
- Biofabrication
Background:
- Vascularization is critical for oxygen and nutrient transport in engineered tissues.
- Current methods lack resolution and reproducibility for complex vascular networks.
- Organized vascularization is essential for disease modeling and experimental robustness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-resolution, reproducible method for micropatterning cells for vascular network formation.
- To establish a framework for assessing and optimizing laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) for cell printing.
- To investigate the impact of pattern geometry on vascular development in vitro.
Main Methods:
- Utilized laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) for deterministic cell micropatterning.
- Developed a droplet quality assessment framework to define an optimal printing window.
- Investigated the effect of pattern density on vascular morphogenesis.
Main Results:
- Achieved high spatial resolution and cell viability using LIFT.
- Identified an objective printability score for optimizing printing conditions.
- Demonstrated control over droplet concentration and pattern density.
- Showcased the influence of geometric design on vascular network formation.
Conclusions:
- LIFT provides a reproducible strategy for high-resolution micropatterning of cells.
- This technique enables the controlled assembly of multicellular vascular patterns.
- Addresses a key limitation in biofabricating physiologically relevant tissue models.
