PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION

2025

Xolography for Biomedical Applications: Dual-Color Light-Sheet Printing of Hydrogels With Local Control Over Shape and Stiffness

Stoecker L, Cedillo-Servin G, et al.

Advanced Materials

Eindhoven University of Technology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, xolo GmbH

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This work advances volumetric 3D printing by introducing **Xolography**, a dual-color light-sheet process enabling rapid, high-resolution fabrication of hydrogels with spatially tunable mechanical properties. Using a dual photoinitiator system, the team achieved local stiffness control (0.2–16 kPa) and printed centimeter-scale constructs with microscale feature precision. The method supports both natural and synthetic hydrogels (GelMA, PEGDA, NIPAAm), achieving complex architectures in minutes. Applications include bioprinting, stimuli-responsive 4D hydrogels, and dynamic scaffolds for cell-laden tissue engineering.

Mechanical testing of printed hydrogel specimens was performed using a CellScale MicroTester G2 under unconfined compression at 1.3 mm/min. Cylindrical hydrogels (2 mm diameter × 4 mm height) were tested using tungsten beams (1.016 mm for PEGDA, 0.4064 mm for GelMA-based samples). Stress–strain curves were used to calculate compressive stiffness in the linear elastic region (1–5% strain), confirming the strong correlation between stiffness and print parameters (UV intensity, print speed).

AUTHORS

Lena Stoecker, Gerardo Cedillo-Servin, Niklas F. König, Freek V. de Graaf, Marcela García-Jiménez, Sandra Hofmann, Keita Ito, Annelieke S. Wentzel, Miguel Castilho.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Advanced Materials

YEAR

2025

INSTITUTIONS

Eindhoven University of Technology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, xolo GmbH

COUNTRIES

Germany, Netherlands

INSTRUMENT USED

MicroTester

TESTING METHODS

Compression TestingMicro-Mechanical Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

3D Bioprinting & Bioink Materials TestingCell Laden HydrogelsHydrogel Mechanical TestingMechanotransductionOrganoid and Tissue Mimetic SystemsStimuli Responsive Hydrogels Characterization

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