1 - Introduction: Inception, evolution and future of 3D bioprinting

Abstract

Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, underpinned by the core principles of rejuvenation, regeneration, and replacement, are shifting the paradigm in healthcare from symptomatic treatment of the 20th century to curative treatment of the 21st century. The current dilemmas for modern day healthcare, such as an aging population and the increasing prevalence of chronic disease require solutions that limit organ dysfunction and tissue degeneration and potentially offer replacement. These challenges, that were first addressed through transplantation, are now being tackled by tissue engineering which seeks to apply stem cell research with developmental biology principles to regenerate cells, tissues, and organs de novo. By reproducing nano-, micro- and macrostructure, 3D bioprinting may replicate complex native-like tissue architecture more faithfully in the laboratory and succeed in areas where tissue engineering has not been able to. The ability to bioprint physiologically relevant multicellular tissue constructs on demand would obviate the need for autologous tissue harvest and dependency on organ donors as well as transform reconstructive surgery.