Piezoelectric 3D bioprinting for ophthalmological applications: process development and viability analysis of the technology

Abstract

Piezoelectric inkjet 3D bioprinting technology is a viable technique for ophthalmological applications. It provides versatility, high sensibility and accuracy, required in ophthalmological procedures. A process flow for biofabrication was described in detail and validated, using piezoelectric inkjet technology, for ophthalmological applications, in vitro and in situ, based on complex images. Ophthalmological problems were documented by diagnostic examinations and were fed to the flow as complex images. The Concept Mapping methodology and the Conceptual Design approach were utilized to elaborate the 3D bioprinting process flow. It was developed a bioink with corneal epithelial cells. To simulate an in situ bioprinting process, eyes of pigs were selected as the substrate to print the cells. Print scripts used the digitally treated images. In order to print on predefined locations, alignment devices and sample holders were built. The proposed process flow has shown to be a potential tool for the biofabrication of ophthalmological solutions.

Double diamond approach helping multidisciplinary health research team to mitigate infrastructure limitations

“…These proposals were tested bioprinting with gel and water, as ink, and a script that uses a substrate photographic record with the predefined location to perform overprinting (Hoehne et al 2020).…”

“…Some of the research projects involve inkjet bioprinter, a kind of additive manufacturing (Tony et al 2023) in the treatment of some ophthalmic pathologies such as herpes and corneal ulcers (Hoehne et al 2020). This technology makes it possible to precisely build tissues that can be implanted to repair an injury or replace the function of an organ that is injured in order to mimic the tissue's natural characteristics.…”

A focused review on three-dimensional bioprinting technology for artificial organ fabrication

“…48 Piezoelectric inkjet bioprinting uses a piezoelectric actuator to produce droplets. 49 When an impulsive voltage is applied to a piezoelectric crystal, a rapid and reversible deformation occurs, causing a sudden change in the volume of the chamber, which leads to the transmission of acoustic waves that provide the necessary pressure pulse to surpass the surface tension at the injector inlet. 50 Kim et al demonstrated that polymer micro-patterning by inkjet printing controlled the cell adhesion geometry as shown in Fig.…”

Nanometric Hydroxyapatite Particles as Active Ingredient for Bioinks: A Review

“…Piezoelectric inkjet bioprinting, applies an actuator of piezoelectric nature in order to create droplets. In this case, the voltage provokes a rapid change in the chamber volume that results in the generation of acoustic waves, that provide a pulse of pressure for bioinking [39]. Electrostatic inkjet bioprinting is driven by the voltage given to a motor and a platen, provoking a bend on a platen that produces the bioink by extrusion.…”