Page 430 - IJB-9-2

International Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Relationship between shear-thinning

rheological properties of bioinks and bioprinting
parameters

2
1
1
Raúl Sánchez-Sánchez , Jesús M. Rodríguez-Rego , Antonio Macías-García ,
Laura Mendoza-Cerezo , Antonio Díaz-Parralejo *
1
2
1 Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de los Materiales, Escuela de Ingenierías
Industriales, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, s/n. 06006-Badajoz. Spain
2 Departamento de Expresión Gráfica, Escuela de Ingenierías Industriales, Universidad de
Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas, s/n. 06006-Badajoz, Spain

Abstract
Three-dimensional bioprinting is a technology in constant development, mainly
due to its extraordinary potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine. It allows
fabrication through the additive deposition of biochemical products, biological
materials, and living cells for the generation of structures in bioengineering. There
are various techniques and biomaterials or bioinks that are suitable for bioprinting.
Their rheological properties are directly related to the quality of these processes. In
this study, alginate-based hydrogels were prepared using CaCl as ionic crosslinking
2
agent. Their rheological behavior was studied, and simulations of the bioprinting
*Corresponding author: processes under predetermined conditions were carried out, looking for possible
Antonio Díaz-Parralejo relationships between the rheological parameters and the variables used in the
(adp@unex.es) bioprinting processes. A clear linear relationship was found between the extrusion
Citation: Sánchez-Sánchez R, pressure and the flow consistency index rheological parameter, k, and between the
Rodríguez-Rego JM, extrusion time and the flow behavior index rheological parameter, n. This would allow
Macías-García A, et al., 2023,
Relationship between shear- simplification of the repetitive processes currently applied to optimize the extrusion
thinning rheological properties of pressure and dispensing head displacement speed, thereby helping to reduce the
bioinks and bioprinting parameters. time and material used as well as to optimize the required bioprinting results.
Int J Bioprint.
https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.687
Received: September 21, 2022 Keywords: Bioprinting; Bioinks; Rheology; Computer simulation; Fluid dynamics
Accepted: October 25, 2022
Published Online: February 16, 2023
1. Introduction
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article The evolution of the layer-by-layer material deposition technology called three-
distributed under the terms of the
[1]
Creative Commons Attribution dimensional (3D) printing or additive manufacturing has led to its implementation
License, permitting distribution, (as 3D bioprinting) in the health field. The principal motivation has been the limited
and reproduction in any medium, availability of organs for transplantation . 3D bioprinting is a constantly developing
[2]
provided the original work is
[3]
properly cited. technology with the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine .
Publisher’s Note: Whioce Bioprinting can be defined as the deposition of biochemicals, biological materials, and
Publishing remains neutral with living cells through additive manufacturing for the generation of bioengineered structures,
regard to jurisdictional claims in [4]
published maps and institutional which are made of biological and biologically relevant materials . It allows cells, tissues,
affiliations. and organs to be printed at will depending on the needs, although this technology is

Volume 9 Issue 2 (2023) 422 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.687