The Recipes for Different 3D Printing Bio-Ink
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The Recipes for Different 3D Printing Bio-Ink

Yuxuan Liu 1* Yuguan Zhou 2, Zixuan Zhou 3
1 Imperial College London
2 North Sichuan Medical College
3 Golden Apple Jincheng No.1 Secondary School
*Corresponding author: yliu23495@gmail.com
Published on 2 October 2025
Journal Cover
TNS Vol.139
ISSN (Print): 2753-8826
ISSN (Online): 2753-8818
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-395-6
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-396-3
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Abstract

3D bioprinting is one of the cutting-edge technologies in recent years, by using computer programming, difficult geometry can be printed. For the 3D printing skin, it just this kind of feature to do the complex mission. One domination issue of the 3D bioprinting skin is the printing material, Bio-Ink. Nowadays, there are five typical materials for Bio-ink, separate into two different categories, three are NATURAL Bio-Ink and two are SYNTHETIC Bio-Ink, analyzation on performance, application and advantages have been done on these materials. In recent years, a different kind of Bio-Ink has been invented, the Complex Bio-Ink, which uses two or more kinds of materials to improve the performance and cover the disadvantages that the other materials meet. This review summarizes the commonly used printing materials, including performance, production and application. Also to improve them, a new kind of Bio-Ink, complex Bio-ink is introduced. By analyzing the improvements of the Complex one compared with the traditional one, a future imagination for 3D Bio-Ink based on the definition of Complex Bio-Ink has been raised.

Keywords:

3D bioprinting, Bio-Ink, Complex Bio-Ink, Synthetic Bio-Ink, Natural Bio-Ink

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Liu,Y.;Zhou,Y.;Zhou,Z. (2025). The Recipes for Different 3D Printing Bio-Ink. Theoretical and Natural Science,139,69-80.

References

[1]. S. N. Economidou and D. Douroumis, '3D printing as a transformative tool for microneedle systems: Recent advances, manufacturing considerations and market potential’, Jun. 01, 2021, Elsevier B.V. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.03.007.

[2]. L. P. Kamolz, P. Kotzbeck, M. Schintler, and S. Spendel, 'Skin regeneration, repair, and reconstruction: present and future’, European Surgery - Acta Chirurgica Austriaca, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 163–169, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s10353-022-00757-9.

[3]. H. Luze, S. P. Nischwitz, C. Smolle, R. Zrim, and L. P. Kamolz, 'The Use of Acellular Fish Skin Grafts in Burn Wound Management—A Systematic Review’, Jul. 01, 2022, MDPI. doi: 10.3390/medicina58070912.

[4]. A. Alsaif, M. Karam, A. Hayre, A. Abul, A. Aldubaikhi, and N. Kahlar, 'Full thickness skin graft versus split thickness skin graft in paediatric patients with hand burns: Systematic review and meta-analysis’, Burns, vol. 49, no. 5, pp. 1017–1027, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2022.09.010.

[5]. F. Schlottmann, V. Bucan, P. M. Vogt, and N. Krezdorn, 'A short history of skin grafting in burns: From the gold standard of autologous skin grafting to the possibilities of allogeneic skin grafting with immunomodulatory approaches’, Mar. 01, 2021, MDPI AG. doi: 10.3390/medicina57030225.

[6]. J. Dean et al., 'Advancements in bioengineered and autologous skin grafting techniques for skin reconstruction: a comprehensive review’, Front Bioeng Biotechnol, vol. 12, 2024, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1461328.

[7]. S. Wang et al., 'A Review of 3D Printing Technology in Pharmaceutics: Technology and Applications, Now and Future’, Feb. 01, 2023, MDPI. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020416.

[8]. S. Saleh Alghamdi, S. John, N. Roy Choudhury, and N. K. Dutta, 'polymers Additive Manufacturing of Polymer Materials: Progress, Promise and Challenges’, 2021, doi: 10.3390/polym13.

[9]. S. Debnath, A. Agrawal, N. Jain, K. Chatterjee, and D. J. Player, 'Collagen as a bio-ink for 3D printing: a critical review’, Jan. 08, 2025, Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/d4tb01060d.

[10]. Y. Shi et al., 'Tyrosinase-doped bioink for 3D bioprinting of living skin constructs’, Biomedical Materials (Bristol), vol. 13, no. 3, Mar. 2018, doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/aaa5b6.

[11]. K. Rosińska, M. Bartniak, A. Wierzbicka, A. Sobczyk-Guzenda, and D. Bociaga, 'Solvent types used for the preparation of hydrogels determine their mechanical properties and influence cell viability through gelatine and calcium ions release’, J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater, vol. 111, no. 2, pp. 314–330, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.35152.

[12]. W. Sun, T. Incitti, C. Migliaresi, A. Quattrone, S. Casarosa, and A. Motta, 'Genipin-crosslinked gelatin–silk fibroin hydrogels for modulating the behaviour of pluripotent cells’, J Tissue Eng Regen Med, vol. 10, no. 10, pp. 876–887, Oct. 2016, doi: 10.1002/term.1868.

[13]. N. Qosim, Y. Dai, G. R. Williams, and M. Edirisinghe, 'Structure, properties, forming, and applications of alginate fibers: A review’, International Materials Reviews, vol. 69, no. 5–6, pp. 309–333, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.1177/09506608241280419.

[14]. Y. Ma et al., '3D bioprinting of a gradient stiffened gelatin-alginate hydrogel with adipose-derived stem cells for full-thickness skin regeneration’, J Mater Chem B, vol. 11, no. 13, pp. 2989–3000, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.1039/d2tb02200a.

[15]. H. Bojorges, M. J. Fabra, A. López-Rubio, and A. Martínez-Abad, 'Alginate industrial waste streams as a promising source of value-added compounds valorization’, Science of the Total Environment, vol. 838, Sep. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156394.

[16]. H. Kwak, S. Shin, H. Lee, and J. Hyun, 'Formation of a keratin layer with silk fibroin-polyethylene glycol composite hydrogel fabricated by digital light processing 3D printing’, Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, vol. 72, pp. 232–240, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.jiec.2018.12.023.

[17]. J. M. Galindo, S. Merino, and M. A. Herrero, 'Advanced Hydrogels: Enhancing Tissue Bioengineering with RGD Peptides and Carbon Nanomaterials’, Feb. 01, 2025, John Wiley and Sons Ltd. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.202400587.

[18]. A. Toncheva et al., 'Antibacterial PLA/PEG electrospun fibers: Comparative study between grafting and blending PEG’, Eur Polym J, vol. 75, pp. 223–233, Feb. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.12.019.

[19]. C. Martins, F. Sousa, F. Araújo, and B. Sarmento, 'Functionalizing PLGA and PLGA Derivatives for Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration Applications’, Jan. 10, 2018, Wiley-VCH Verlag. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201701035.

[20]. Y. Zhou et al., 'Sulfated hyaluronic acid/collagen-based biomimetic hybrid nanofiber skin for diabetic wound healing: Development and preliminary evaluation’, Carbohydr Polym, vol. 334, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122025.

References

[1]. S. N. Economidou and D. Douroumis, '3D printing as a transformative tool for microneedle systems: Recent advances, manufacturing considerations and market potential’, Jun. 01, 2021, Elsevier B.V. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.03.007.

[2]. L. P. Kamolz, P. Kotzbeck, M. Schintler, and S. Spendel, 'Skin regeneration, repair, and reconstruction: present and future’, European Surgery - Acta Chirurgica Austriaca, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 163–169, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.1007/s10353-022-00757-9.

[3]. H. Luze, S. P. Nischwitz, C. Smolle, R. Zrim, and L. P. Kamolz, 'The Use of Acellular Fish Skin Grafts in Burn Wound Management—A Systematic Review’, Jul. 01, 2022, MDPI. doi: 10.3390/medicina58070912.

[4]. A. Alsaif, M. Karam, A. Hayre, A. Abul, A. Aldubaikhi, and N. Kahlar, 'Full thickness skin graft versus split thickness skin graft in paediatric patients with hand burns: Systematic review and meta-analysis’, Burns, vol. 49, no. 5, pp. 1017–1027, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2022.09.010.

[5]. F. Schlottmann, V. Bucan, P. M. Vogt, and N. Krezdorn, 'A short history of skin grafting in burns: From the gold standard of autologous skin grafting to the possibilities of allogeneic skin grafting with immunomodulatory approaches’, Mar. 01, 2021, MDPI AG. doi: 10.3390/medicina57030225.

[6]. J. Dean et al., 'Advancements in bioengineered and autologous skin grafting techniques for skin reconstruction: a comprehensive review’, Front Bioeng Biotechnol, vol. 12, 2024, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1461328.

[7]. S. Wang et al., 'A Review of 3D Printing Technology in Pharmaceutics: Technology and Applications, Now and Future’, Feb. 01, 2023, MDPI. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020416.

[8]. S. Saleh Alghamdi, S. John, N. Roy Choudhury, and N. K. Dutta, 'polymers Additive Manufacturing of Polymer Materials: Progress, Promise and Challenges’, 2021, doi: 10.3390/polym13.

[9]. S. Debnath, A. Agrawal, N. Jain, K. Chatterjee, and D. J. Player, 'Collagen as a bio-ink for 3D printing: a critical review’, Jan. 08, 2025, Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/d4tb01060d.

[10]. Y. Shi et al., 'Tyrosinase-doped bioink for 3D bioprinting of living skin constructs’, Biomedical Materials (Bristol), vol. 13, no. 3, Mar. 2018, doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/aaa5b6.

[11]. K. Rosińska, M. Bartniak, A. Wierzbicka, A. Sobczyk-Guzenda, and D. Bociaga, 'Solvent types used for the preparation of hydrogels determine their mechanical properties and influence cell viability through gelatine and calcium ions release’, J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater, vol. 111, no. 2, pp. 314–330, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.35152.

[12]. W. Sun, T. Incitti, C. Migliaresi, A. Quattrone, S. Casarosa, and A. Motta, 'Genipin-crosslinked gelatin–silk fibroin hydrogels for modulating the behaviour of pluripotent cells’, J Tissue Eng Regen Med, vol. 10, no. 10, pp. 876–887, Oct. 2016, doi: 10.1002/term.1868.

[13]. N. Qosim, Y. Dai, G. R. Williams, and M. Edirisinghe, 'Structure, properties, forming, and applications of alginate fibers: A review’, International Materials Reviews, vol. 69, no. 5–6, pp. 309–333, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.1177/09506608241280419.

[14]. Y. Ma et al., '3D bioprinting of a gradient stiffened gelatin-alginate hydrogel with adipose-derived stem cells for full-thickness skin regeneration’, J Mater Chem B, vol. 11, no. 13, pp. 2989–3000, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.1039/d2tb02200a.

[15]. H. Bojorges, M. J. Fabra, A. López-Rubio, and A. Martínez-Abad, 'Alginate industrial waste streams as a promising source of value-added compounds valorization’, Science of the Total Environment, vol. 838, Sep. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156394.

[16]. H. Kwak, S. Shin, H. Lee, and J. Hyun, 'Formation of a keratin layer with silk fibroin-polyethylene glycol composite hydrogel fabricated by digital light processing 3D printing’, Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, vol. 72, pp. 232–240, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.jiec.2018.12.023.

[17]. J. M. Galindo, S. Merino, and M. A. Herrero, 'Advanced Hydrogels: Enhancing Tissue Bioengineering with RGD Peptides and Carbon Nanomaterials’, Feb. 01, 2025, John Wiley and Sons Ltd. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.202400587.

[18]. A. Toncheva et al., 'Antibacterial PLA/PEG electrospun fibers: Comparative study between grafting and blending PEG’, Eur Polym J, vol. 75, pp. 223–233, Feb. 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2015.12.019.

[19]. C. Martins, F. Sousa, F. Araújo, and B. Sarmento, 'Functionalizing PLGA and PLGA Derivatives for Drug Delivery and Tissue Regeneration Applications’, Jan. 10, 2018, Wiley-VCH Verlag. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201701035.

[20]. Y. Zhou et al., 'Sulfated hyaluronic acid/collagen-based biomimetic hybrid nanofiber skin for diabetic wound healing: Development and preliminary evaluation’, Carbohydr Polym, vol. 334, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122025.

Cite this article

Liu,Y.;Zhou,Y.;Zhou,Z. (2025). The Recipes for Different 3D Printing Bio-Ink. Theoretical and Natural Science,139,69-80.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICBioMed 2025 Symposium: AI for Healthcare: Advanced Medical Data Analytics and Smart Rehabilitation

ISBN: 978-1-80590-395-6(Print) / 978-1-80590-396-3(Online)
Editor: Alan Wang
Conference website: https://2025.icbiomed.org/auckland.html
Conference date: 17 October 2025
Series: Theoretical and Natural Science
Volume number: Vol.139
ISSN: 2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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