Publication Highlight: AI- Driven Spheroid Bioprinting for Biofabrication of Cartilage

In a study conducted Utrecht University , Laser-Induced Forward Transfer (LIFT) was combined with melt electrowriting (MEW) to deposit articular cartilage progenitor cell (ACPC) spheroids into reinforcing meshes.

The study was performed using the NGB-R TM bioprinting platform equipped with the PickCell module (Poietis), a computer-vision–enabled system for the selection and positioning of spheroids and aggregates based on defined criteria such as morphology and size, enabling automated and more reproducible assembly. The effects of laser energy, spheroid size, and spheroid concentration on deposition fidelity, cell viability, and chondrogenic potential were investigated. In addition, the transfer of larger spheroids was shown to be improved through AI-based imaging analysis while reducing donor bioink requirements.