B-BRIGHTER researchers from GUF and IBEC publish an outstanding paper in Advanced Materials Journal presenting LUMINATE (Light sheet-based Ultrafast Microscopic Non-contact And Three-dimensional Enhanced bioprinting), a method that encompasses high printing speed and high resolution while introducing a fully integrated and streamlined fluorescent light sheet microscope capable of capturing real 3D images by optical sectioning the bioprinted construct.
Recently, a great work summarizing the research advances of B-BRIGHTER project came to light and was published in the prestigious journal Advanced Materials. The work, first-authored by Levin Hafa and signed by GUF and IBEC teams, shows that B-BRIGHTER’s innovative approach lies in its ability to combine high printing speed (0.66 mm³/s) with exceptional resolution (9 µm) using light sheet-based imaging.
The methodology involves direct laser patterning and a static light sheet for confined voxel crosslinking in photocrosslinkable materials. This not only enhances the precision of the bioprinting process but also allows for real-time monitoring of hydrogel crosslinking through techniques such as fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and brightfield imaging.
The versatility of the integrated system is demonstrated through the encapsulation of human fibroblasts in a thiol-ene click chemistry-based hydrogel. The results show a remarkable viability of 83% ± 4.34% and functional behaviour. Additionally, the application extends to the development of full-thickness skin constructs that exhibit characteristics of both epidermal and dermal layers. Notably, these constructs remained viable for an extended period of 41 days, underlining the potential of the integrated system in long-term tissue engineering applications.
B-BRIGHTER integrated fluorescent light sheet bioprinting and imaging system represents a significant stride forward in tissue engineering technology. Its capabilities offer researchers and healthcare professionals a powerful tool for designing and fabricating complex tissue structures with unprecedented precision and efficiency. As technology continues to evolve, the future holds exciting prospects for further advancements in light-based bioprinting, ultimately shaping the landscape of biomedical research and healthcare.
Reference article: Light Sheet-based Laser Patterning Bioprinting Produces Long-term Viable Full-thickness Skin Constructs. Levin Hafa, Louise Breideband, Lucas Ramirez Posada, Núria Torras, Elena Martinez, Ernst H.K. Stelzer, Francesco Pampaloni. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202306258