3D Bioprinting: New Directions in Articular Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Bioprinting is a growing field with significant potential for developing engineered tissues with compositional and mechanical properties that recapitulates healthy native tissue. Much of the current research in tissue and organ bioprinting has focused on complex tissues that require vascularization. Cartilage tissue engineering has been successful in developing de novo tissues using homogenous scaffolds. However, as research moves towards clinical application, engineered cartilage will need to maintain homogeneous nutrient diffusion in larger scaffolds and integrate with surrounding tissues. Bioprinting techniques have provided promising results to address these challenges in cartilage tissue engineering. The purpose of this review was to evaluate 3D extrusion-based bioprinting research for developing engineered cartilage. Specifically, we reviewed the potential impact of 3D bioprinting on nutrient diffusion in larger scaffolds, development of scaffolds with spatial variation in cell distribution or mechanical properties, and cultivation of more complex tissues using multiple materials. Finally, we discuss current limitations and challenges in using 3D bioprinting for cartilage tissue engineering and regeneration.

Chemical insights into bioinks for 3D printing

“…Nevertheless, to mimic the biological complexity and the heterogeneity of natural tissues, it is important to have access to a wide range of different bioinks whose nature, physical and chemical properties can be chosen in accordance with the 3D printing method. This review focuses on bioink chemistry, which has already enabled the biofabrication of vessels, [1][2][3] tissues and skin, 4-9 cartilage [10][11][12] and bone. [13][14][15][16] Besides artificial organs, [17][18][19][20][21] the preparation of relevant 3D models [22][23][24] recapitulating the microenvironment of natural tissues has also been successfully performed by 3D bioprinting, in particular for screening of anticancer drugs and comprehension of tumour invasion mechanisms.…”

Mimicking nature: Fabrication of 3D anisotropic electrospun polycaprolactone scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering applications

“…Alternatively, an enhanced nutrient diffusion in large biocompatible scaffolds can be easily accomplished by 3D printing/bioprinting fabrication 23 due to the possibility to combine the chemical characteristics of bioactive bioinks with accurate mechanical and spatial features [24][25][26] .…”

Three-Dimensional Bioprinting of Cartilage by the Use of Stem Cells: A Strategy to Improve Regeneration

“…Shear thinning can be negatively influenced by a small nozzle diameter, as well as high printing pressure and viscosity. In the case of hydrogel bioink extrusion through a nozzle, viscosity decreases as shear rate increases [ 27 , 28 ]. Blaeser et al investigated how shear stresses influence cell behavior in an alginate-based bioink printed by extrusion.…”