Table 2.
Comparison of properties of bioinks for 3D bioprinting technique.
| Source | Bioink Type | Mechanical Property | Cytocompatibility | Printability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural polymer | Collagen | Weak, <1 KPa elastic moduli | Cell favorable | Poor printability |
| Gelatin | Weak and unstable | Cell favorable | 350–450 μm | |
| Fibrin | Weak, ~50 Pa | Cell favorable | Poor printability | |
| Silk fibroin | Strong, ~25 KPa tensile strength | Non-cytotoxic, Weak cell adhesive |
280–320 μm | |
| Hyaluronic acid | — | Cell favorable | Poor printability | |
| Alginate | Tunable, varied with molecular weight and Ca2+ contents | Non-cytotoxic, Weak cell adhesive |
Poor printability | |
| Agarose | Fragile, 3–15 KPa compressive strength | Non-cytotoxic, Weak cell adhesive |
>500 μm | |
| Chitosan | — | Non-cytotoxic, Support cell adhesion |
Poor printability | |
| Synthetic polymer | Poly(ethylene glycol) | Tunable | Non-cytotoxic, Support cell adhesion |
>200 μm |
| Pluronic F127 | Soft and weak | Cytotoxic | ~150 μm |