The selection of appropriate materials for use in bioprinting and their performance in a particular application depend on several
features. These are listed below.
• Printability
Properties that facilitate handling and deposition by the bioprinter may include viscosity, gelation methods and rheological properties.
• Biocompatibility
Materials should not induce undesirable local or systemic responses from the host and should contribute actively and controllably to the biological and functional components of the construct.
• Degradation kinetics and byproducts
Degradation rates should be matched to the ability of the cells to produce their own ECM; degradation byproducts should be nontoxic; materials should demonstrate suitable swelling or contractile characteristics.
• Structural and mechanical properties
Materials should be chosen based on the required mechanical properties of the construct, ranging from rigid thermoplastic polymer fibers for strength to soft hydrogels for cell compatibility.
• Material biomimicry
Engineering of desired structural, functional and dynamic material properties should be based on knowledge of tissue-specific
endogenous material compositions.