Applications of Volumetric Additive Manufacturing in Cell Printing

Academic Background

Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (VAM) is a revolutionary 3D printing technology capable of rapidly creating complex three-dimensional structures, particularly in the field of cell printing. VAM can mimic the structures of natural tissues, offering new possibilities for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. However, despite its immense potential, VAM faces numerous challenges in industrial applications and regulatory compliance. In the field of bioprinting, ensuring the safety, efficacy, and scalability of printed tissues remains a pressing issue. Additionally, differences in regulatory frameworks and intellectual property protection across different countries and regions pose additional barriers to the promotion and application of this technology.

This paper, co-authored by Vidhi Mathur, Vinita Dsouza, Varadharajan Srinivasan, and Kirthanashri S. Vasanthan, aims to explore the advantages and limitations of VAM technology in cell printing and analyze its suitability for industrial applications. The article also highlights the regulatory shortcomings in India regarding VAM technology, calling for collaboration among industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and academia to develop appropriate frameworks that promote innovation while ensuring safety and efficacy.

Source of the Paper

The paper, co-authored by Vidhi Mathur, Vinita Dsouza, Varadharajan Srinivasan, and Kirthanashri S. Vasanthan, was published in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, Volume 11, 2025, pages 156-181. The title of the paper is “Volumetric Additive Manufacturing for Cell Printing: Bridging Industry Adaptation and Regulatory Frontiers.”

Main Content of the Paper

1. Core Principles and Methods of VAM Technology

VAM technology generates complex three-dimensional structures within seconds by irradiating the entire volume of photosensitive resin. Unlike traditional layer-by-layer printing, VAM employs a nozzle-free method, utilizing a Digital Light Processing (DLP) module to generate light patterns and irradiate the resin in a rotating glass vial, achieving localized solidification. The primary advantage of VAM lies in its rapid printing speed and its ability to overcome geometric and surface quality issues inherent in traditional layer-by-layer printing.

2. Material Selection for VAM Technology

Material selection is crucial for VAM technology, as the transparency and optical density of materials directly impact printing outcomes. Commonly used materials include acrylates, epoxies, thiol-enes, sintered materials, and biocompatible hydrogels. Acrylates are widely used due to their high reactivity and tunable mechanical properties, but their cytotoxicity limits their application in cell printing. Hydrogels, on the other hand, are a primary material in bioprinting due to their excellent biocompatibility and cell viability.

3. Application Areas of VAM Technology

VAM technology has demonstrated broad application prospects in various fields, including tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, personalized drug evaluation, and soft robotics. For example, researchers have successfully printed human ear models and biological tissues with complex vascular networks using VAM. Additionally, VAM has been used to rapidly manufacture personalized drug tablets, completing the printing process in seconds and significantly improving production efficiency.

4. Future Prospects of VAM Technology

Although VAM technology offers significant advantages in terms of printing speed, support-free printing, and high cell viability, there is still room for improvement in resolution and material selection. Future research will focus on the development of multicellular and multilayer printing techniques, as well as the exploration of more types of bioinks. Furthermore, expanding the build size of VAM printers to ensure sufficient light penetration for effective solidification is a key area of future research.

5. Regulatory Challenges of VAM Technology

The widespread application of VAM technology requires addressing a series of regulatory issues, including safety regulations, material regulations, intellectual property protection, quality control, and environmental regulations. For instance, the high-intensity light sources and high-power lasers used in VAM processes may pose radiation and chemical exposure risks to operators, necessitating strict protective measures. Additionally, the biocompatibility and environmental sustainability of materials are key concerns for regulatory agencies.

Significance and Value of the Paper

This paper comprehensively explores the application of VAM technology in cell printing, analyzing its advantages and challenges in industrial applications and proposing future research directions. By emphasizing collaboration among industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and academia, the paper provides important theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the promotion and application of VAM technology. The further development of VAM technology is expected to bring revolutionary breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and personalized medicine, enhancing patient care and treatment outcomes.

Highlights

1. Rapid Printing: VAM technology can complete the printing of complex three-dimensional structures in seconds, significantly improving production efficiency.
2. Support-Free Printing: VAM technology eliminates the need for support structures, enabling the easy printing of complex geometries.
3. High Cell Viability: VAM technology demonstrates high cell viability in cell printing, offering new possibilities for tissue engineering.
4. Multidisciplinary Applications: VAM technology shows broad application prospects in fields such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, personalized drug evaluation, and soft robotics.

Conclusion

As an emerging 3D printing technology, VAM holds immense potential in the fields of cell printing and tissue engineering. Although it faces challenges in industrial applications and regulatory compliance, technological innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration are expected to enable the broader application of VAM in the future, driving advancements in regenerative medicine and personalized medicine.