3D bioprinting faces challenges due to gravity, causing cells to settle and clog printing nozzles, affecting the quality of printed tissues. Researchers at MIT have developed a new solution, MagMix, to address this issue by preventing cell sedimentation. MagMix is a compact, magnetically actuated mixer that fits into bioprinters, maintaining uniform cell distribution in bioinks during printing. It comprises a magnetic propeller inside the syringe and a motor-driven permanent magnet that controls the propeller’s movement. This ensures even mixing without altering the bioink composition or interfering with the printer’s operation.
The MIT team tested MagMix using computer simulations to determine the best propeller design and speed, demonstrating its effectiveness experimentally. MagMix was shown to prevent cell settling for over 45 minutes during continuous printing, reducing clogging and ensuring high cell viability. The device can adapt mixing speeds to suit various bioinks, minimizing stress on cells and enabling successful 3D printing of tissues that mature into muscle over several days.
MagMix offers a versatile, low-cost solution for improving the reproducibility and quality of engineered tissues, with potential applications in disease modeling, drug testing, and regenerative medicine. The research, supported by MIT’s Safety, Health, and Environmental Discovery Lab (SHED), exemplifies the lab’s efforts to translate innovative techniques into practical research tools.
Beyond medical applications, the team is exploring using printed tissues in biohybrid robots. Their study, published in the journal Device, highlights the potential impact of this innovation on 3D bioprinting and human health.
Source: MIT News | Read Original: Link
