ABSTRACT
Laser direct-write (LDW) printing was initially used for printing complex electronic materials in thin films and circuits with spatial resolutions ~10 μm. This precise resolution and reproducibility made LDW techniques attractive for adaptation to tissue engineering (TE) applications. Three-dimensional (3D) printing in TE requires the ability to deposit precise patterns of multicomponent and multiphase materials without degrading desirable properties such as porosity, homogeneity, or biological activity. Laser-based techniques can deposit patterns of biomaterials such as proteins, DNA, or living cells (individual or aggregated) with high-spatial and volumetric resolution on the order of a picoliter or less, without compromising the viability of these delicate structures. This chapter discusses how laser-based 3D-printing techniques seek to address issues in tissue and organ printing.
