Fibronectin Patterns printed with µCP
Fibronectin coating is popular to enforce cell adhesion to surfaces. Microcontact printing allows partial and well defined preparation of surfaces. Here HUCB-NSC were grown on microcontact printed fibronectin squares.

Micro needle arrays by NIL
High-ascpect-ratio 3D objects like micro needles are feasible with the GeSiM micro-contact-printers. Micro needle arrays are a popular research field for alternative subcutaneous drug delivery.

Nanoplasmonic sensor structure by NIL
The performance of label-free SPR detection can be improved by nano-structured surfaces using NIL (Nano-Imprint Lithography). This customer project focuses  on the design of a waste-water sensor.

Picolitre wells for cell biology
NIL with UV-curable adhesives allows the design of Picolitre wells to attract single cells per well.

NIL of micro wells with interconnecting channels
Here we show NIL shaped microstructures for electrical activity measurement studies.

Introduction
Here we present a general overview of bioprinter applications and printable materials for the GeSiM BioScaffolder instruments.

Melt Electro Writing of Milk Protein/PCL Blends for Skin Regeneration

The influence of milk proteins on the properties of PCL was investigated by the Department of Chemistry at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Special focus was put on the Melt Electro Writing unit of the GeSiM bioprinter BioScaffolder 3.1. The used milk proteins, Lactoferrin and Whey Protein, are supposed to increase the biological functionality of PCL.

PCL-PEG Blends for Tissue Engineering
A customer at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen (FAU) succeeded in improving the properties of PCL for tissue engineering by adding PEG. These biopolymers shall be optimized towards a quicker degradation/mass loss when getting in contact with body fluid.

Struts and Capsules
A group from the FAU Erlangen added prefabricated capsules enriched with cells to hydrogels before printing. Different components desirable for bone regeneration, e.g., cells and bioactive proteins, can be incorporated both in the capsules and struts. This enables compartmentalization of components, which facilitates greater flexibility in modification of the scaffold.

Green Bioprinting
A team from the Technische Universität Dresden printed algae cells suspended in hydrogel together with mammalian cells. The cocultivation of algae in close vicinity to human cells could enable a sustained delivery of oxygen or secondary metabolites with therapeutic potential to human cells without the need of external supply. The fabrication of patterned coculture scaffolds can be easily realized by two-channel plotting.

Alginate/Methylcellulose Blends
Immediate cross linking of alginate after printing can be avoided – Accordingly to an approach of researchers at the Technische Universität Dresden. The addition of Methylcellulose (MC) to low concentrated alginate leads to an enhanced viscosity and therefore improved printing conditions.

Bioprinting: The Future of Surgery?
In a joint research project with the Technische Universität Dresden a scaphoid bone scaffold model was printed from Calcium Phosphate Cement. As model the human scaphoid bone was selected and 3D data extracted from a CT scan.

As FAST as Possible
An EU funded Consortium (Horizon 2020) was setup to optimize bulk and surface properties of scaffold materials for implants. GeSiM has been engaged for the development of high-performance syringe extruders for printing of polymer gradients through a single tool and within one layer. Further GeSiM adapts the NADIR plasma pen onboard of the BioScaffold printer, it now synchronizes with all other GeSiM bioprinter tools

Synthesis of Hydrogels

The BSyS 3.1/E (Large platform) was configured for the automatic synthesis of Hydrogels. Hydrogels are an important component of bioinks for tissue engineering.

Applications Overview
The MicCell is a versatile toolkit for doing optical transparent microfluidic prototypes. This section presents a list of already done applications and outlines the versatility of the MicCell system in life science research.

Wastewater Analysis Using Foil-Based Microfluidics
Beside of PDMS, laser cut foils allow to stack several microfluidic layers in a MicCell Setup. Here an autologous microfluidic system for waste water analysis was developed.

Foil based Multi-Layer Flow Cell to study Gradients
Membrane separated foil cut chips were used with a MicCell setup to exposes channel-bound collagen to different concentrations of cells.

Detection of Biological Polutants in Waste Water
A foil-based MicCell system was used for waste water analysis using genetically modified yeast cells.

Biofilms and Biofouling
Here the MicCell platform was used to develop antifouling coatings on transparant surfaces.

Foil-based Multi-Organ Chip
Customers developed a flow-cell in which overpressure or vacuum are exerted on cells or organoids, e.g. to monitor chondrocyte differentiation. These cells interfere with a robot (Microfluidic Workstation) for pipetting and optical measurement.

Silicon based Multi-Organ Chip
In cooperations with the Fraunhofer IWS Dresden a Multi-Bioreactor Chips was developed. It is supposed to enable studies of the interaction of consumer-relevant synthetic or natural substances with the human body in its typical environments and with its individual genotypic specificities.