Progress in adoptable materials in 3D bioprinting technology for organ and tissue regenerative engineering

Abstract

Bioprinting is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary field of research where design engineering, materials science, precision of automation engineering, and biology are integrated with biological systems for a medical purpose. Through multidisciplinary research, devoted efforts in this sector have advanced this technology to newer frontiers, giving many fresh materials and approaches to reproduce the complex microenvironment required by cells to promote their growth, migration, and differentiation. This article articulates the process of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting by providing a breakdown of all the processes involved, with a prognosis of a positive future for this technology. In this review article, brief insights into different types of 3D printing technologies have been provided, along with the limitations and advantages they confer. A comparative rundown on the available bio-inks and their ideal usage in the various 3D printing modules is highlighted. Finally, the futuristic concept of integrated organ printing (IOP), together with the view of futuristic technology of four-dimensional (4D) technology, is explained with its recent advances and the current hurdles that need to be overcome to see the full glory of the novel technology of bioprinting.