The Biomaker: an entry‐level bioprinting device for biotechnological applications

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUND3D printing and bioprinting in particular are emerging technologies in the field of biotechnology. The developments of bioprinters and applications lie mostly in the highly observed working fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Until now only little attention has been paid to the application of 3D bioprinting for the investigation of hydrogel–liquid phase interactions in biotechnological applications. This can mostly be attributed to the need for complex and expensive equipment.RESULTSIn this work, an entry‐level bioprinter on the base of a commercially available Fused‐Filament‐Fabrication 3D printer and an easy to handle user interface was designed. This newly developed bioprinter allowed the structuring of bioinks and hydrogels in microwell plates and even complex models were printed. The applicability of the presented printer setup in the field of biotechnology was shown by the encapsulation of β‐galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.23) in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate based hydrogels. Subsequently, an automated screening of the biocatalytic conversion of the substrate ONPG by the encapsulated enzyme was executed on a liquid handling station. Under varied pH conditions in the surrounding liquid phase highest substrate turnover rates were detected at pH 3 and pH 5 which is in good accordance with previously reported pH optima of β‐galactosidase.CONCLUSIONThis approach shows an easy access to 3D bioprinting in the field of biotechnology and the implementation of 3D printed hydrogels in high‐throughput experimentation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry