From Shape to Function: The Next Step in Bioprinting

In 2013, the “biofabrication window” was introduced to reflect the processing challenge for the fields of biofabrication and bioprinting. At that time, the lack of printable materials that could serve as cell‐laden bioinks, as well as the limitations of printing and assembly methods, presented a maj...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 32; no. 12; pp. e1906423 - n/a
Main Authors:	Levato, Riccardo, Jungst, Tomasz, Scheuring, Ruben G., Blunk, Torsten, Groll, Juergen, Malda, Jos
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-03-2020
Subjects:	Biocompatible Materials - chemistry biofabrication bioinks Biological evolution biological function Bioprinting - methods Construction materials Gelatin - chemistry Gels - chemistry Humans Materials science Microfluidics Nanocomposites - chemistry Printing, Three-Dimensional regenerative medicine Three dimensional printing Tissue Engineering tissue hierarchy Tissue Scaffolds bioinks biofabrication tissue hierarchy regenerative medicine biological function
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Summary:	In 2013, the “biofabrication window” was introduced to reflect the processing challenge for the fields of biofabrication and bioprinting. At that time, the lack of printable materials that could serve as cell‐laden bioinks, as well as the limitations of printing and assembly methods, presented a major constraint. However, recent developments have now resulted in the availability of a plethora of bioinks, new printing approaches, and the technological advancement of established techniques. Nevertheless, it remains largely unknown which materials and technical parameters are essential for the fabrication of intrinsically hierarchical cell–material constructs that truly mimic biologically functional tissue. In order to achieve this, it is urged that the field now shift its focus from materials and technologies toward the biological development of the resulting constructs. Therefore, herein, the recent material and technological advances since the introduction of the biofabrication window are briefly summarized, i.e., approaches how to generate shape, to then focus the discussion on how to acquire the biological function within this context. In particular, a vision of how biological function can evolve from the possibility to determine shape is outlined. Advances in bioinks and bioprinting technologies have expanded the “biofabrication window”, achieving unprecedented resolution, shape fidelity, and mimicry of living tissues. The next challenge is guiding bioprinted constructs to mature, acquiring biological functions, to enable successful applications in regenerative medicine and advanced in vitro models. The vision of how biological function can evolve from the possibility to determine shape is outlined.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 ObjectType-Review-3 content type line 23 The ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201906427.
ISSN:	0935-9648 1521-4095 1521-4095
DOI:	10.1002/adma.201906423