Study of the biocompatibility of polymeric resins processed by 3D printing for applications in manufacturing of devices for short term 3D cultures

The biocompatibility of materials and processes used in the fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) culture devices is crucial for the success of some relevant studies. In this context, 3D printing emerges as a promising technology to be used. This study evaluated three resins as candidates for the production of 3D culture devices: PriZma 3D Bio Splint (resin 1), 3D Prime Premium Cristal (resin 2), and Quanton Spin Skin Opaca (resin 3). Cubic samples of 2 mm and 3 mm were fabricated using a DLP 3D printer, followed by post-processing and sterilization. Biocompatibility was assessed using immortalized BSC-40 cells cultured in 96-well plates using MTT colorimetric assay to estimate cellular viability. A material is considered biocompatible if cell viability is above 70%. Resins 1 and 3 demonstrated high biocompatibility, with cell viability exceeding 80% and no significant differences between sample sizes. In contrast, the cell viability of resin 2 ranged from 60 to 66%. Based on these results, simplified devices for 3D cultures were produced with resin 1, due to its characteristics, particularly its transparency, which facilitates culture protocols and microscopic observations. After 4 days of culture, cells exhibited a three-dimensional morphology with long cellular projections and high viability when evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. We conclude that resins 1 is suitable for device fabrication, while resin 2 and 3 are not recommended because of the low biocompatibility and the opacity. respectively. The chosen materials show great potential for the production of devices for short term 3D cell cultures, an expanding and highly relevant area of scientific research.