Utilization of cryogenic temperatures to reduce line width variability in 3D bioprinted hydrogel lattices

Abstract

The 3D bioprinting of acellular hydrogel scaffolds holds enormous potential for wound healing and the regeneration of tissue. The precision of hydrogel scaffolds is limited by the diffusion and fusion of soft hydrogels during the printing process. The use of cryogenic temperatures may reduce the unequal diffusion of 3D printed hydrogel and thus protect pore morphology. Our results suggest that hydrogel lattices printed at cryogenic temperatures display less variation in line width along the length of the printed segments as well as sharper outer corners.