AccScience Publishing / IJB / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/ijb.6567
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Development of a high-precision 3D bioprinter system using a screw-based dispenser for microextrusion

Sungmin Lee1,2 ,  Juo Lee2,3 ,  Iksong Byun2,4 ,  Jungsil Kim5 ,  Jong Geun Choi6* ,  Hoon Seonwoo1,2,3,4*
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1 Department of Human Harmonized Robotics, College of Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
2 Interdisciplinary Program in IT-Bio Convergence System, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
3 Department of Convergent Biosystems Engineering, College of Life Science and Natural Resources, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
4 Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, College of Life Sciences and Natural Resources, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
5 Department of Smart Bio-Industrial Mechanical Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
6 School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, South Korea
IJB 2025, 11(2), 336–352; https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.6567
Submitted: 26 November 2024 | Accepted: 27 January 2025 | Published: 27 January 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

3D bioprinting creates biological structures by layering bioinks with living cells or biomaterials. Microextrusion, a type of 3D bioprinting, uses pneumatic, piston, or screw methods to extrude bioink precisely. The reliability of 3D bioprinting depends on bioink characteristics, printing conditions, and printer accuracy. Thus, a 3D bioprinter that effectively controls these factors is essential to facilitate 3D bioprinting. In this study, we developed a high-precision 3D bioprinter system (HP-BPS) with a high-accuracy 3D plotting system and a screw-based dispenser. Evaluation of reducers installed on the X- and Y-axis driving systems decreased motion error by up to 97%. Geometric errors of the HP-BPS were measured using a laser interferometry system. Through the application of iterative position error compensation techniques, a position accuracy within ±2.0 μm was achieved. In specific carboxymethyl cellulose concentrations (15% and 20%), the HP-BPS was able to produce uncollapsed bioink struts. The HP-BPS successfully fabricated 1 × 1 mm2 bioscaffolds with 0.2 mm struts by design of experiments and response surface methodology. These results suggest the potential of the HP-BPS for various tissue engineering applications in soft tissue construction, such as skin and blood vessels.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
3D bioprinting
3D bioscaffold
High-precision 3D bioprinter system
Position error compensation technique
Screw-based dispenser
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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International Journal of Bioprinting, Electronic ISSN: 2424-8002 Print ISSN: 2424-7723, Published by AccScience Publishing
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