Essential Guide to Hydrogel Rheology in Extrusion 3D Printing: How to Measure It and Why It Matters?

Rheology plays a crucial role in the field of extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing, particularly context hydrogels. Hydrogels have gained popularity 3D printing due to their potential applications tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. The rheological properties material significant impact on its behaviour throughout process, including extrudability, shape retention, response stress strain. Thus, understanding characteristics hydrogels, such as shear thinning behaviour, thixotropy, viscoelasticity, gelling mechanisms, is essential for optimising process achieving desired product quality accuracy. This review discusses theoretical foundations rheology, explores different types fluid properties, tests necessary characterising paper emphasises importance terminology, concepts, correct interpretation results evaluating hydrogel formulations. By presenting detailed rheology this aims assist researchers, engineers, practitioners hydrogel-based optimizing processes outcomes.