Page 390 - IJB-10-2

International Journal of Bioprinting Automated bioink mixer improves bioprinting

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the experiment design in this study. Two syringes were loaded with a hydrogel and a cell suspension, respectively, before
connecting with a coupler. The bioink mixing process was then performed manually by human operators or automatically by the machine. The mixed
bioinks were evaluated and bioprinted.

mixing parameters. By evaluating bioink homogeneity Figure 2A and B. This device consists of a linear sliding table
and cell viability under different mixing conditions, we (Oumefarnfc9v7rz8m, Oumefar, Shenzhen, China), four
sought to identify the optimal combination of parameters. endstops (JY-3DP-084, Jopto, Shenzhen, China), a stepper
Furthermore, a comparison was conducted between human motor (42BYGH48, Oubang Transmission, Jiangsu, China),
mixing and machine mixing to assess the effects on cell a stepper driver (TMC2100, Trinamic, Hamburg, Germany),
distribution, cell viability, and rheological properties. This a microcontroller unit (MCU; UNO R3, Arduino, Ivrea,
study demonstrates the critical importance of standardizing Italy), and a touchscreen interface (starbun-776, Starbun,
the bioink mixing process for bioprinting applications. The Shenzhen, China). In addition, all other plastic parts were
developed methodology provides valuable guidance for designed on Creo Parametric (Parametric Technology
future research on bioink preparation, ultimately enhancing Corporation, MA, USA) software and produced by fused
the quality and reliability of bioprinted constructs. deposition modeling (FDM; Monoprice Select Mini, Boston,
CA, USA) and liquid crystal display (LCD; Original Prusa
2. Materials and methods SL1S SPEED, Prague, Czech Republic) 3D printers, with
2.1. Design and use of the mixing device white polylactic acid (PLA; PLA175bk1000, Amazon Basics,
To ensure a controlled and consistent bioink mixing process, Munich, Germany) and transparent resin (tough clear
we developed an electronic mixing device, as depicted in VALUE resin; PrimaCreator, Malmö, Sweden), respectively.

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 382 doi: 10.36922/ijb.1974