The field of tissue engineering requires versatile scaffold fabrication technologies capable of inducing cell proliferation and differentiation to promote functional tissue regeneration. Traditional fabrication methods face inherent trade-offs among production speed, resolution, and cost, which hinder their ability to replicate the intricate hierarchical structures of biological tissues. To address these challenges, we developed a mask projection photolithography system with variable optical magnification. This system allows for precise control of the microscale feature size in the final product using a single mask, by adjusting the optical magnification with interchangeable objective lenses and a relay lens. With this system, we successfully fabricated porous scaffolds with reproducible pore sizes ranging from 25 to 100 μm, exposing a Poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, Mn = 700) hydrogel precursor solution through a honeycomb-patterned mask for durations of just 3 to 10 seconds. The mask projection system presented in this study offers a powerful and efficient platform for creating the microstructures essential for various advanced biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and organoid-on-a-chip, thanks to its unique combination of speed, precision, and cost-effectiveness.

Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering (BTE) should accomplish appropriate mechanical, cell interaction, and new bone ingrowth properties. Among calcium phosphate (CaP) based bio-ceramics used for preparing scaffolds, biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) is attracting great interest for fabricating BTE scaffolds owing to its excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing technology commonly used for modeling, prototyping, and production applications. It is one of techniques used for 3D printing. The main purpose of this study was to develop new fabrication process of BCP scaffolds based on extrusion moulding using a 3D printer. Through the 3D printer, we showed new fabrication process for making scaffold mould and extrusion device parts that could be combined with tension-compression test machine. Line width, pore size, and porosity of these fabricated BCP scaffolds were measured and calculated. Mechanical properties and cell proliferation results of these BCP scaffolds were then evaluated.