Fabrication of Vessels-on-a-Plate (VOP) Platform Using a 3D Bioprinter to Facilitate Cell Culture

To begin, prior to fabrication, treat a six-well plate with oxygen plasma at a strength of 100 watts for one minute. Set the temperature of the bioprinter's head to 37 degrees Celsius for the sacrificial ink and five degrees Celsius for the silicone ink. Next, attach a 22-gauge double-screw thread tapered nozzle to the silicone syringe.

Load the silicone and sacrificial inks into the print head of the bio-printer. Load the desired G-code and press the SERVO READY function on the bioprinter software interface for three seconds. Position the plate on the stage at the starting point of the G-code and click START to initiate the printing process.

Now place a lid over the plate, then cure the silicone chambers in a humidified carbon dioxide incubator at 37 degrees Celsius for 72 hours. The sacrificial pattern on the VOP remained free from desiccation.