Bioxolography
At the Soft Robotics Lab, we are investigating new approaches to make bio-actuators' fabrication faster and more accurate. We believe we can use light-based bioprinting to realize structures that have complex geometries and topographic textures to induce oriented myofiber formation and effective muscle tissue development.
Introduction
We propose to adapt the state-of-the-art volumetric printing technique, namely xolography, to cell-laden bioprinting, termed bioxolography. Bioxolography will be a linear volumetric bioprinting technique that realizes highly resolved, variable cross-sections without limiting the length of the printable construct. Linear Volumetric Bioprinting can solve the challenge of replicating highly oriented and finely resolved muscle fibers at arbitrary orientations within cm-scale engineered constructs, currently not possible with other methods.
Applications
The technique will allow us to manufacture bio-actuators at a high speed and spatial resolution via a dual-color photoinitiator volumetric bioprinting process, bioxolography, that precisely controls cell positioning and induces cellular alignment useful for oriented myofiber formations. By mastering the technique we will rapidly produce functional bio-actuators with novel designs for robotics.
Authors Involved
This research was conducted by a collaborative team from the Soft Robotics Lab at ETH Zurich, including:
- Miriam Filippi
- Aiste Balciunaite
- Asia Badolato
- Robert K. Katzschmann