Page 258 - IJB-10-2

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
3D bioprinting of adhesive, anti-bacterial

alginate/polyacrylamide-based customized
boluses using digital light processing for

radiotherapy applications

Ying Lu , Xiaomin Zhang ,Youjie Rong ,Yannan Xu ,Xiaohong Yao ,
3
3
1,2
2,4
3

Guobao Pang ,Qinying Shi ,Xiaobo Huang *,Meiwen An *, and Jianbo Song *
3
2,4
2
2
1

1 Biomedical Engineering Department, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of
Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
2 Radiation Therapy Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji
Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
3
Materials Science and Engineering Department, School of Materials Science and Engineering,
Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
4 Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory for Translational Nuclear Medicine and Precision Protection,
Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
Abstract
Boluses are a type of materials used to enhance skin dose during the treatment
*Corresponding authors: of superficial lesions. However, the current commercially available boluses cannot
Xiaobo Huang fully conform to irregular skin surfaces due to their uniform thickness, thereby
(huangtyut@163.com)
Meiwen An compromising the efficacy of radiotherapy. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting
(anmeiwen@tyut.edu.cn) boasts a huge potential in the creation of customized boluses, but the use of this
Jianbo Song technique is limited by shortcomings of the prevailing materials, such as their
(jianbo2611@sxmu.edu.cn)
indirect printability and substance rigidity. As a potential substitute, hydrogels
Citation: Lu Y, Zhang X, Rong Y, possessing a tensile modulus comparable to that of skin tissue are optimal candidates
et al. 3D bioprinting of adhesive, for customizing boluses. In this study, we developed a photocurable bioink for
anti-bacterial alginate/polyacryl-
amide-based customized boluses multifunctional boluses using digital light processing (DLP). Alginate, acrylamide,
using digital light processing for polyethylene glycol diacrylate, lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate,
radiotherapy applications. and protocatechuic acid were synergistically combined to fabricate the bioink. The
Int J Bioprint. 2024;10(2):1589.
doi: 10.36922/ijb.1589 bolus printed using this bioink was endowed with enhanced toughness, superior
adhesion, tissue equivalence, anti-dehydration and anti-bacterial properties, as well
Received: August 12, 2023
Accepted: October 13, 2023 as excellent biocompatibility and radiation performance. In conclusion, the DLP-
Published Online: January 9, 2024 based 3D bioprinting of the proposed bioink can provide an avenue for obtaining
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). personalized boluses in radiotherapy treatment of superficial tumors.
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Keywords: Photocurable 3D bioprinting; Composite gel; Multifunctional bolus;
License, permitting distribution, Radiotherapy
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with 1. Introduction
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Radiotherapy plays a crucial role in the therapeutic management of tumors. The build-
affiliations. up effect of high-energy radiation is advantageous in depositing high doses in deep

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 250 doi: 10.36922/ijb.1589