Lithography-based 3D printed hydrogels: From bioresin designing to biomedical application
Hanieh Sadat Ghazali, Esfandyar Askari, Zahra Sadat Ghazali, Seyed Morteza Naghib, Thomas Braschler
Abstract
Recently, 3D printing has become a promising technique in biomedical engineering applications. These techniques have undergone numerous changes since they were first produced, from the instrument to the material used. Herein, we provided an overview and comprehensive insight into the rapidly progressing field of additive manufacturing, called lithography-based 3D printing. This technique has been a topic of interest in the past decade, when the potential of irradiated light emerged in tissue engineering. At first, the significant differences between the lithography-based and other methods are discussed, and it is followed by a general framework for photo-cross-linking of polymers. Furthermore, the specific bioresin criteria and properties that should be attained in order to achieve optimum utility and printability are discussed according to the bioprinting strategy of interest and materials selection. Finally, we summarize the recent lithography-based bioprinting applications for fabricated tissues, disease models, regenerative medicine, 4D printing, and local delivery of therapeutic agents. Our review of future possibilities is expected to motivate the development of a lithography-based bioprinting landscape facilitated by light.