Parallelization remains a key challenge in advancing three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting from a prototyping method to a practical tool for true high-throughput screening (HTS). HTS requires arrays of physiologically relevant 3D tissue models that remain viable under immersion in liquid. Yet current 3D bioprinting on liquid compartmentalization platforms is inherently serial. Sequential fabrication scales unfavorably with the array sizes required for ever-growing libraries in disease modeling and drug discovery, forcing a trade-off between physiological relevance and throughput. Here, we present a parallel 3D bioprinting solution that integrates Digital Light Processing (DLP) stereolithography with a wettability-patterned slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) - Droplet Microarray (DMA). This wall-less compartmentalization platform repels gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) inks and maintains stable droplet boundaries, enabling complete postprinting immersion of hydrogel structures in liquid droplets. By eliminating the physical solid walls between compartments, it becomes possible to fabricate arrays of 3D hydrogel structures in parallel, effectively decoupling fabrication time from array size. Thus, this work bridges the gap between 3D tissue-model arrays and fabrication speed required for HTS. Using optimized printing parameters, we fabricate tens to hundreds of cell-laden GelMA structures within 10 min, preserving cell viability and compartmentalization. Our parallel 3D printing– SLIPS–DMA approach establishes a flexible system-on-a-chip for miniaturized multicondition HTS of cell–material–drug interactions.
Padberg et al. (Thu,) studied this question.