Bioinks and Bioprinting Technologies to Make Heterogeneous and Biomimetic Tissue Constructs

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

The native tissues are complex structures consisting of different cell types, extracellular matrix materials, and biomolecules. Traditional tissue engineering strategies have not been able to fully reproduce biomimetic and heterogeneous tissue constructs because of the lack of appropriate biomaterials and technologies. However, recently developed three-dimensional bioprinting techniques can be leveraged to produce biomimetic and complex tissue structures. To achieve this, multicomponent bioinks composed of multiple biomaterials (natural, synthetic, or hybrid natural-synthetic biomaterials), different types of cells, and soluble factors have been developed. In addition, advanced bioprinting technologies have enabled us to print multimaterial bioinks with spatial and microscale resolution in a rapid and continuous manner, aiming to reproduce the complex architecture of the native tissues. This review highlights important advances in heterogeneous bioinks and bioprinting technologies to fabricate biomimetic tissue constructs. Opportunities and challenges to further accelerate this research area are also described.

Related collections

Most cited references 204

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Recent advances in bone tissue engineering scaffolds.

Susmita Bose, Mangal Roy, Amit Bandyopadhyay (2012)

Bone disorders are of significant concern due to increase in the median age of our population. Traditionally, bone grafts have been used to restore damaged bone. Synthetic biomaterials are now being used as bone graft substitutes. These biomaterials were initially selected for structural restoration based on their biomechanical properties. Later scaffolds were engineered to be bioactive or bioresorbable to enhance tissue growth. Now scaffolds are designed to induce bone formation and vascularization. These scaffolds are often porous, made of biodegradable materials that harbor different growth factors, drugs, genes, or stem cells. In this review, we highlight recent advances in bone scaffolds and discuss aspects that still need to be improved. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

0 comments Cited 525 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: not found
Article: not found

Nanocomposite Hydrogels: A Unique Organic–Inorganic Network Structure with Extraordinary Mechanical, Optical, and Swelling/De-swelling Properties

K Haraguchi, T. Takehisa (2002)

0 comments Cited 416 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

VEGF couples hypertrophic cartilage remodeling, ossification and angiogenesis during endochondral bone formation.

H P Gerber, T. H. Vu, A. Ryan … (1999)

Hypertrophic chondrocytes in the epiphyseal growth plate express the angiogenic protein vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). To determine the role of VEGF in endochondral bone formation, we inactivated this factor through the systemic administration of a soluble receptor chimeric protein (Flt-(1-3)-IgG) to 24-day-old mice. Blood vessel invasion was almost completely suppressed, concomitant with impaired trabecular bone formation and expansion of hypertrophic chondrocyte zone. Recruitment and/or differentiation of chondroclasts, which express gelatinase B/matrix metalloproteinase-9, and resorption of terminal chondrocytes decreased. Although proliferation, differentiation and maturation of chondrocytes were apparently normal, resorption was inhibited. Cessation of the anti-VEGF treatment was followed by capillary invasion, restoration of bone growth, resorption of the hypertrophic cartilage and normalization of the growth plate architecture. These findings indicate that VEGF-mediated capillary invasion is an essential signal that regulates growth plate morphogenesis and triggers cartilage remodeling. Thus, VEGF is an essential coordinator of chondrocyte death, chondroclast function, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis and bone formation in the growth plate.