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What is FRESH Bioprinting?
FRESH bioprinting, or Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels, is a 3D bioprinting method that enables the fabrication of complex, high-resolution biological structures by extruding bioink into a support bath filled with gelatin-based thermoreversible gel. The support bath exhibits Bingham plastic behavior, allowing it to flow under the shear stress of the printing nozzle while behaving as a rigid solid at low stress levels. Examples of Bingham plastic fluid include mayonnaise and toothpaste. This property enables the bath to temporarily hold the printed structure in place until it stabilizes, thereby overcoming the problem of soft hydrogels collapsing under gravity before solidification. Once printing is complete, the gelatin slurry is removed by warming to body temperature (37°C), leaving the final product intact. In contrast to the traditional FDM 3D printers that print into the air, FRESH bioprinters enable a wider range of customizability for advanced biofabrication using soft materials.