Multiscale Modeling and Applications of Three-Dimensional (3D) Laser Bio-printing

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Bio-printing has emerged as one of the most influential applications of 3D printing, aiming to address the increased demand for living constructs with long term mechanical and biological stability suitable for transplantation, as well as improved drug discovery models. Existing 3D bio-printing technologies use electromechanical processes to deliver “inks” containing live cells, usually called bio-inks. Bio-inks are extremely sensitive to thermal and mechanical stress, thus existing bio-printing processes face the challenge of maintaining cell viability during the printing process. In this context, the long-term objective of my research is to address the ongoing demand for improved 3D bio-printing approaches, which are (i) compatible with both low and high viscosity bio-ink formulations, and (ii) capable to generate functional living constructs of biological relevant size with high resolution and speed. Towards this aim, we will develop, model, and validate novel bio-printing approaches that leverage laser-generated micro-jets to bio-print 3D living constructs. The specific aims are: (a) To develop a complete modeling framework for the physical mechanisms involved in laser printing of bio-inks. (b) To experimentally validate and optimize the performance of novel 3D laser bio-printing architectures by using model inks. (c) To validate optimized 3D laser bio-printing architectures for layer-by-layer printing of functional 3D living constructs. The proposed program can enable bio-printing processes that are compatible with a large variety of bio-ink formulations and offer enhanced post-printing cell viability. Importantly, it can eventually lead to the development of affordable, small-footprint bio-printing devices for tissue engineering applications. In the near future, those systems are expected to be heavily used for drug screening models, as compounds could be evaluated on bio-printed tissue before initiation of human trials.