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Review
. 2023 Aug 21:11:1255782.
doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1255782. eCollection 2023.

Laser-induced forward transfer based laser bioprinting in biomedical applications

Jinlong Chang  1 , Xuming Sun  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Laser-induced forward transfer based laser bioprinting in biomedical applications

Jinlong Chang et al. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. .

Abstract

Bioprinting is an emerging field that utilizes 3D printing technology to fabricate intricate biological structures, including tissues and organs. Among the various promising bioprinting techniques, laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) stands out by employing a laser to precisely transfer cells or bioinks onto a substrate, enabling the creation of complex 3D architectures with characteristics of high printing precision, enhanced cell viability, and excellent technical adaptability. This technology has found extensive applications in the production of biomolecular microarrays and biological structures, demonstrating significant potential in tissue engineering. This review briefly introduces the experimental setup, bioink ejection mechanisms, and parameters relevant to LIFT bioprinting. Furthermore, it presents a detailed summary of both conventional and cutting-edge applications of LIFT in fabricating biomolecule microarrays and various tissues, such as skin, blood vessels and bone. Additionally, the review addresses the existing challenges in this field and provides corresponding suggestions. By contributing to the ongoing development of this field, this review aims to inspire further research on the utilization of LIFT-based bioprinting in biomedical applications.

Keywords: 3D printing; biomedical applications; bioprinting; laser-induced forward transfer; tissue engineering.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Laser-assisted bioprinting utilizes laser-induced rapid heating of the donor layer to form a bubble and propel the bioink onto the substrate. (from ref. (Foyt et al., 2018). licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Schematic of three different regimes depending on the level of laser pulse energy: (A) sub-threshold regime, (B) jetting regime, and (C) plume regime. (from ref. (Kryou and Zergioti, 2022). licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
The microarray functionalized with Ebola virus surface glycoprotein peptide for screening IgG antibodies in disease survivors. (A). The sequence of the Ebola virus surface glycoprotein was mapped into 662 overlapping 15-residue peptides, with a lateral shift of 1 amino acid per spot. After serum incubation, the binding of antibodies to arrays with (B) 4444 and (C) 10,000 spots/cm2 was analyzed by fluorescence imaging. The results signals of (D) 4444 spots/cm2 and (E) a commercial reference microarray were shown. (from ref. (Paris et al., 2022). licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Vessels formed with labelled (green fluorescent) endothelial cells on Matrigel (within 24 h) are presented in (A) grids or (B, C) a line. Scale bars are 1 mm (A), 200 µm [(B) left and (C) left], 50 µm [(B) right and (C) center], and 10 µm [(C) right]. (from ref. (Koch et al., 2021). licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
(A) Schematic of bone repair with the laser assisted bioprinting approach. (B) Histological evaluation of bone repair was performed through Hematoxylin/Eosin/Safran staining in mouse tibial defects at 1 and 2 months post bioprinting. [from ref. (Keriquel et al., 2017). licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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