Acoustic Bioprinting: A Glimpse Into an Emerging Field

Abstract

Bioprinting has facilitated tissue engineering by enabling the fabrication of biologically and physiologically relevant 3D constructs. However, conventional bioprinting techniques often lack precise control over the spatial organization of cells within bioprinted structures. Acoustics, on the other hand, offers a powerful tool for non-contact, label-free, high-precision cell manipulation but is inherently limited in its ability to create complex volumetric architectures. The integration of these two technologies, termed acoustic bioprinting, holds significant promise for advancing biofabrication. In this review, the synergistic potential of acoustics in enhancing three primary bioprinting modalities-droplet, light-polymerization, and extrusion-is analyzed. The ways in which acoustic fields can improve cell patterning, alignment, and bioink-manipulation-leading to more biomimetic constructs with enhanced physiological properties-are dicussed. Additionally, novel ultrasound-polymerization-based bioprinting technologies that leverage cavitation, sono-thermal effects, and liposome-mediated polymerization to enable deep penetration biofabrication, expanding the scope of bioprinting beyond conventional methods, are explored. By leveraging the strengths of both bioprinting and acoustics, this review highlights emerging strategies that can shape the next generation of biofabrication, offering innovative solutions for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Keywords: acoustics; biofabrication; bioprinting; tissue engineering; ultrasound.