3D Bioprinting-Based Vascularized Tissue Models Mimicking Tissue-Specific Architecture and Pathophysiology for in vitro Studies

Abstract

A wide variety of experimental models including 2D cell cultures, model organisms, and 3D in vitro models have been developed to understand pathophysiological phenomena and assess the safety and efficacy of potential therapeutics. In this sense, 3D in vitro models are an intermediate between 2D cell cultures and animal models, as they adequately reproduce 3D microenvironments and human physiology while also being controllable and reproducible. Particularly, recent advances in 3D in vitro biomimicry models, which can produce complex cell structures, shapes, and arrangements, can more similarly reflect in vivo conditions than 2D cell culture. Based on this, 3D bioprinting technology, which enables to place the desired materials in the desired locations, has been introduced to fabricate tissue models with high structural similarity to the native tissues. Therefore, this review discusses the recent developments in this field and the key features of various types of 3D-bioprinted tissues, particularly those associated with blood vessels or highly vascularized organs, such as the heart, liver, and kidney. Moreover, this review also summarizes the current state of the three categories: (1) chemical substance treatment, (2) 3D bioprinting of lesions, and (3) recapitulation of tumor microenvironments (TME) of 3D bioprinting-based disease models according to their disease modeling approach. Finally, we propose the future directions of 3D bioprinting approaches for the creation of more advanced in vitro biomimetic 3D tissues, as well as the translation of 3D bioprinted tissue models to clinical applications.

Toward 3D‐Bioprinted Models of the Liver to Boost Drug Development

“…[81,82] Kupffer cells are introduced within in vitro platforms aiming to model contributions from the immune system. [83] Currently, the most diffuse type of hepatic macrophages for 3D-bioprinting applications are Kupffer-like cells, derived from human iPSCs. [70,84] However, Kupffer and Kupffer-like cells are not the only option to introduce immune cells into hepatic models.…”

A Review of Biomaterials and Scaffold Fabrication for Organ-on-a-Chip (OOAC) Systems

“…It has been taken up by the OOAC community and been used to develop scaffolds for a Heart-on-a-Chip using endothelial cells plotted with GELMA and crosslinked using UV light; pore size of around 100 µm was shown [228]. Along with cardiac tissue, bioplotting has been used successfully to mimic blood vessels, liver and kidney on a chip [229].…”

Employing Extracellular Matrix-Based Tissue Engineering Strategies for Age-Dependent Tissue Degenerations

“…A 3D bioprinting system can facilitate complex construction using multiple materials and multiple cells by utilizing multiple nozzles [145]. Tissue-specific geometric structures (i.e., convoluted tubules as well as chamber-and lobule-like structures) constructed via 3D bioprinting demonstrated enhanced function and structural maturity [146,147]. The 3D bioprinting system uses bioinks and biomaterial inks to print the product, and ECM-based materials for bioinks have become the popular choice recently [148].…”