Mid-infrared laser system for high-throughput bioprinting by laser-induced forward-transfer

Descrizione del progetto

Un sistema laser a medio infrarosso per la biostampa a cellula singola senza contaminazioni

Il trasferimento in avanti indotto da laser (LIFT, laser‐induced forward transfer) è una tecnica di biostampa che si avvale di impulsi laser a nanosecondi per trasferire materiali biologici da un vetrino donatore con uno strato metallico in grado di assorbire il laser a un substrato ricevente. Questo metodo consente di effettuare una stampa ad alta produttività di biomateriali con risoluzione a cellula singola e ha il potenziale per permettere la fabbricazione di tessuti biologici ad alta risoluzione. La maggiore sfida che la biostampa basata su LIFT deve affrontare è la contaminazione dei campioni stampati da parte di nanoparticelle metalliche, che si verifica a causa dell’ablazione dello strato in grado di assorbire il laser. Il progetto MIDLIFT, finanziato dall’UE, è incentrato sullo sviluppo di nuovi sistemi laser a elevata potenza operativi nello spettro del medio infrarosso per sfruttare l’assorbimento intrinseco dei biomateriali ed eliminare la necessità di uno strato metallico di assorbimento, con l’obiettivo di consentire una stampa di biomateriali priva di contaminazioni.

Obiettivo

The goal of this Fellowship is the development of a novel mid-infrared laser system for high-throughput bioprinting by laser-induced forward-transfer (LIFT). The Fellow will develop a high repetition-rate, high-power, nanosecond laser system emitting at exactly 2.9 µm (the peak absorption wavelength of liquid water). The strong absorption of the mid-infrared laser output in biomaterials will be utilised for the demonstration of a new bioprinting technique: mid-infrared LIFT of biomaterials. It will overcome the main drawback of conventional biomaterial LIFT, which is the reliance on additional absorber layers and contamination of printed materials with metallic debris. Mid-infrared LIFT will enable high-throughput (10k droplets/s), high-resolution (picolitre droplets) 3D-printing of biomaterials without metallic contamination and will be a highly promising platform for tissue fabrication.
The mid-infrared laser system will be realised with a gain-switched quantum-cascade diode laser and multiple Er-doped fluoride-fibre amplifier stages. The laser system will be designed to provide 25 ns pulse durations, 10-30 µJ pulse energies, 100 kHz repetition rate, and laser emission at 2.9 µm wavelength. This laser system will be integrated into an existing LIFT setup and used for the first demonstration of mid-infrared LIFT bioprinting.
The Fellow is an early-stage postdoc, who has resumed his research career after a 5-year period working in industry. He is an expert in fibre laser development and will be trained in quantum-cascade-lasers, gain-switched diode lasers, LIFT, and bioprinting. The complementary training will include communication and dissemination of research results, commercialisation of research output, and acquisition of research and innovation project funding. The Fellowship will enable the Fellow to establish a unique scientific profile, build a research network, and reach professional maturity.