Tomographic volumetric bioprinting: from bioink design to resolution enhancement

Tomographic volumetric bioprinting (TVBP) is an emerging transformative technology in bio-manufacturing, distinguished by two exceptional capabilities: ultrafast fabrication (centimeter-scale constructs within tens of seconds) and unique compatibility with ultra-soft bioinks (<10 2 Pa). Despite its potential, TVBP remains in its infancy because of significant hurdles. These include the need to adapt conventional photocurable bioinks to TVBP’s unique photopolymerization requirements and achieve sufficient resolution to replicate intricate multicellular structures. Therefore, this review outlines strategies to address these challenges, delving into (1) the development of suitable bioinks, (2) printing resolution optimization, and (3) rapid construction of complex biological structures and functions. Furthermore, the fundamental principles and evolution of projection slicing algorithms are explored, and the latest advancements in TVBP applications are summarized. Finally, we explore the future trajectory of this promising bio-manufacturing technology.