LusoBioMaker: A low-cost 3D bioprinter with multi-extrusion and contour printing capabilities for thermo- and photocurable hydrogels towards complex tissue fabrication

Abstract

3D bioprinting is an expanding field that allows for the design of intricate structures using multiple materials and living cells. This has enormous potential for applications in drug testing, regenerative medicine, and, more recently, cell-based food products, with the surge of the cellular agriculture field. However, the high cost of equipment is frequently a significant limitation for implementing these approaches. Here, we present LusoBioMaker, an open-source bioprinter that delivers commercial-grade performance for under $900 of materi. Built on a modified Ender 3-V2 platform it integrates dual screw-driven extrusion, independent active temperature control (2–50 °C) and in-situ 365 nm photocuring, generating up to 320 N force through open-access firmware. Using κ-carrageenan, Pluronic F-127 and gelatin methacrylate/poly(ethyleneglycol) diacrylate (GelMA/PEGDA) inks we printed complex lattices with a printability factor of 0.995 and sub-millimetre dimensional errors while maintaining 97 % L929 cell viability after fourteen days. Comprehensive calibration and acceptance tests performed in accordance with the ISO 230-1/2 standards confirmed <50 μm positional error and <0.005° angular deviation across both extrusion nozzles. A systematic review of 17 reported low-cost bioprinters revealed that none combine dual screw extrusion, active thermal regulation and on-head UV curing in a single chassis, highlighting LusoBioMaker's unique features set. As a proof-of-concept, we bioprinted a hollow nipple–areola complex by co-extruding a thermosensitive κ-carrageenan core and a photocurable GelMA/PEGDA shell, exploiting all three hardware capabilities in one uninterrupted run. This demonstration underscores LusoBioMaker's capacity to manufacture anatomically intricate, gradient tissues on demand and to democratise advanced biofabrication workflows.