Precision printing of gelatin utilizing electrostatic inkjet

The precision printing of biomaterials is essential for fabricating bio devices, and two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell structures. To fabricate 3D cell structure artificially, biomaterials should be installed between cells to support the gravity force of cells. In general, the viscosity of ink from biomaterials is relatively high. An electrostatic inkjet is used for the bioprinting of cells and biomaterials because it has good merits, i.e., high printing resolution and good capability to eject highly viscous ink. In this paper, gelatin, an important biomaterial is printed using an electrostatic inkjet. The width of the finest printed line is 6 m. The precisely printed line can be used as a scaffold of living cells. (C) 2014 The Japan Society of Applied Physics