Systematic analysis of deposition modules in 3D bioprinting

Abstract

3D bioprinting requires deposition modules capable of transforming bioinks into reproducible, viable, and stable structures. This study presents a systematic review of scientific literature and patent documents related to deposition modules used in extrusion-based, inkjet, and laser-assisted bioprinting techniques. The methodology followed PRISMA guidelines adapted for technological analysis and included literature searches, document selection based on predefined criteria, and a patentometric analysis of patent applications and granted patents published between 2021 and 2025. Patentometric Representativeness (PR), defined as the proportion of patents associated with each technique relative to the total number of patents analysed, was used to identify innovation trends across different bioprinting technologies. In addition, the Deposition Error Index (DEI) was proposed as a technical metric to estimate the percentage deviation between the deposited dimension and the target dimension, thereby assessing the potential technical performance of deposition modules. The final sample included 32 patents: 18 related to extrusion-based bioprinting, 4 to inkjet bioprinting, and 10 to laser-assisted bioprinting. The PR analysis indicated the predominance of extrusion-based systems (56.3%), followed by laser-assisted bioprinting (31.3%) and inkjet technology (12.5%). The results show that recent innovation is focused on modular systems, coaxial nozzles, detachable printheads, ultrasound-assisted and magnetic field-assisted deposition, as well as hybrid bioprinting platforms. It can be concluded that the design of deposition modules should be evaluated not only in terms of resolution and cell compatibility, but also with respect to modularity, sterilization capability, inline monitoring and control, geometric fidelity, and integration with automatic feedback mechanisms.