Twist‐Assisted Bioprinting for Micro‐Helical Topological Reconstruction

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Abstract
Conventional extrusion‐based bioprinting of hydrogels often yields constructs with insufficient mechanical strength. To address this limitation, this study proposes a novel strategy termed Twist‐Assisted Bioprinting (TAB). By employing a custom‐designed twisting module to impose controllable rotation during continuous extrusion, TAB achieves a micro‐helical topological reconstruction of the deposited hydrogel filaments. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared to conventional direct ink writing (DIW), constructs fabricated via TAB exhibit a 9.4% increase in elongation at break and a 24.2% increase in maximum load, alongside a 33.1% reduction in elastic modulus. This shift signifies a mechanical reconfiguration characterized by low modulus and high extensibility. Furthermore, the study elucidates the non‐monotonic influence of printing height, printing speed, rotation speed, and needle spacing on tensile properties, which typically manifest as an initial increase followed by a decline. As a proof of concept, the successful fabrication of a biomimetic tendon featuring distinct helical textures validates the feasibility of TAB and demonstrates its potential for constructing soft tissue scaffolds requiring high extensibility.

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