Flexibly actuated pneumatic extrusion with in-situ monitoring for direct ink writing of heterogeneous and pressure-vulnerable materials.

This study presents a novel piston-driven pneumatic extrusion system for direct ink writing (DIW), featuring flexible actuation and real-time monitoring of extrusion pressure. The design integrates the benefits of both pressure and feedrate control, achieving consistent linewidth while safeguarding pressure-sensitive materials such as cell-laden hydrogels. The system comprises a lightweight pneumatic syringe on the printhead and a stationary actuation unit, allowing efficient decoupling of motion and extrusion.

Development of a two-layer 3D equine endometrial tissue model using genipin-crosslinked collagen scaffolds and 3D printing.

Advances in endometrial tissue engineering have enabled the combination of modified scaffolding materials with modern cell culture technologies. Genipin and three-dimensional (3D) printing have advanced cell-tissue engineering by enabling the precise layering of cell-containing matrices while ensuring low cytotoxicity. This study aimed to advance equine endometrial tissue engineering by designing customized collagen scaffolds using 3D printing technology, while optimizing the genipin concentration to avoid toxicity.