We were pleased to host A/Prof. Khoon Lim from the University of Sydney for our June webinar, where he presented on:

Light-Activated Biomaterials as Bioinks for 3D Printing

Presentation Highlights

  • Hydrogel Development for 3D Bioprinting: A/Prof. Khoon Lim discussed his group’s work on hydrogel-based biomaterials, focusing on gelatin and synthetic polymers like polyvinyl alcohol for tailored bioprinting applications.
  • Customisation of Gelatin and Polymers: By chemically modifying gelatin with groups like methacryloyl, tyramine, and others, the team enhances hydrogel printability, mechanical properties, and compatibility for cell encapsulation.
  • Light-Activated Crosslinking Systems: Visible light-driven crosslinking, using ruthenium-based systems, enables precise hydrogel shaping with reduced cytotoxicity compared to traditional UV-based methods.
  • Design of Vascularised Constructs: Khoon’s team demonstrated how tuning bioink stiffness and architecture promotes vascular cell growth, endothelial network formation, and microcapillary development within printed hydrogels.
  • Cartilage and Bone Engineering: Using modified gelatin and bioinks incorporating growth factors like BMP-2 and BMP-7, the team developed layered constructs mimicking bone and cartilage, supporting tissue-specific cell growth.
  • Organ-on-a-Chip and Microfluidics: 3D-printed microfluidic devices and organ-on-chip models were fabricated using hydrogels, demonstrating perfusable channels for oxygen and nutrient transport with cell encapsulation.
  • Injectable Fat Grafts and Biomaterial Applications: The group explored injectable biomaterials for tissue repair, highlighting approaches to improve shape retention and biological function using crosslinkable hydrogels.
  • Growth Factor Delivery Systems: Khoon described hydrogel systems that incorporate and control the release of growth factors via visible light crosslinking, supporting targeted tissue regeneration.

Research Applications

  • Custom bioinks for scalable, cell-safe 3D bioprinting
  • Light-activated materials for high-resolution tissue engineering
  • Biomaterial strategies for vascularisation and complex tissue interfaces
  • Injectable hydrogels for minimally invasive repair and controlled therapeutic delivery
  • Next-generation fat grafting technologies for reconstructive research

Full Abstract

3D Bioprinting requires specialised bioinks that are able to be printed but also protect the cells during the printing process. These bioinks are often biomaterials with specific rheological properties that allow spatial extrusion in a layer-by-layer manner, while also being cyto-compatible to support cellular viability and function.

This lecture covers the different design criteria required for bioinks, as well as the variety of materials being employed to manufacture these bioinks. Specific focus is placed on the various chemistries used to synthesise polymers, photo-initiating systems to crosslink the polymers, as well as strategies to maintain bioprinted constructs’ stability.

Moreover, these chemistries and strategies are compared across different biofabrication platforms, including extrusion and lithography-based bioprinting technologies. The versatility of these materials and crosslinking chemistries allows the generation of different tissue analogues, including cartilage, bone, and blood vessels.

About A/Prof. Khoon Lim

A/Prof. Khoon Lim is co-director of the Sydney Biomanufacturing Incubator and a recognised leader in hydrogel biomaterials and polymer chemistry. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from UNSW, with research spanning bioinks, 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

His work has advanced biofabrication platforms, vascularised tissue constructs, injectable hydrogels, and visible light crosslinking systems for pre-clinical applications in cartilage repair, bone regeneration, and fat grafting.

Missed the Live Session?

If you missed the live session or would like to revisit the discussion, the full recording is now available.
Watch the webinar recording below or on YouTube: Webinar

Interested in Hydrogels?

We offer a range of hydrogels designed for 3D cell culture, biofabrication, and tissue engineering. For inquiries, visit our Product Page or contact us at info@smartmcs.com.au to learn more.

Thank you for joining the Smart MCS Webinar Series, where we share insights into tools and technologies shaping bioprocessing, cell biology, and biomedical research.