AccScience Publishing / IJB / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/IJB026200187
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Data-driven rheology enables predictive embedded bioprinting

Junyan Wang1 Wenzhen Zhang1 Ke Yang1 Bowen Zheng1 Qi Li1*
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1 School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Received: 13 May 2026 | Revised: 12 June 2026 | Accepted: 16 June 2026 | Published online: 16 June 2026
© 2026 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/ )
Abstract

Precise control of filament formation remains a central barrier in extrusion-based bioprinting, where small deviations in material behavior can lead to large variations in structure and cellular outcome. Here, we present a data-driven rheology framework that enables predictive embedded bioprinting by directly linking material behavior to process outcome. A machine learning model was used to capture the coupled temperature-shear response of a thermosensitive gelatin methacryloyl bioink and the shear-dependent behavior of the supporting bath, and was integrated into process analysis. This approach improved predictions of both flow disturbances and filament geometry, with reduced errors in aspect ratio and filament width compared to conventional constitutive models. The improved predictability translated into controllable fabrication, enabling stable filament formation across a wide size range (160–800 μm) and the reliable construction of ultra-soft, freeform, and overhanging structures with preserved three-dimensional fidelity. This level of control also carried biological consequences, as well-defined filaments supported faster post-printing recovery, enhanced alignment, stronger myosin heavy chain expression, and transcriptional signatures consistent with a more favorable differentiation state. These results show that improving rheological description could move embedded bioprinting toward predictive manufacturing, where geometry and biological outcome can be coordinated through material-informed design.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
Biofabrication
Bioprinting
Embedded bioprinting
Printability
Funding
We would like to thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52405305) for its support.
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