Abstract
Although there have been remarkable advances in cartilage tissue engineering, construction of irregularly shaped cartilage, including auricular, nasal, tracheal, and meniscus cartilages, remains challenging because of the difficulty in reproducing its precise structure and specific function. Among the advanced fabrication methods, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology offers great potential for achieving shape imitation and bionic performance in cartilage tissue engineering. This review discusses requirements for 3D printing of various irregularly shaped cartilage tissues, as well as selection of appropriate printing materials and seed cells. Current advances in 3D printing of irregularly shaped cartilage are also highlighted. Finally, developments in various types of cartilage tissue are described. This review is intended to provide guidance for future research in tissue engineering of irregularly shaped cartilage.
Highlights
Cartilage is widely distributed throughout the human body, and is mainly composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) with embedded chondrocytes (Anderson, 1962)
The results showed that the maximum tensile stress, Young’s modulus, and elongation of the 3D tracheal scaffold were 4.6 MPa, 21.1 MPa, and 106.2%, respectively, and the Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the scaffold could be induced to differentiate into chondrocytes (Hsieh et al, 2018)
3D-printed cartilage has been successfully utilized in various medical fields
Summary
Cartilage is widely distributed throughout the human body, and is mainly composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) with embedded chondrocytes (Anderson, 1962). The shape of cartilage varies, often forming irregular arcs or circular patterns depending on its function. The trachea and meniscus function in load bearing and supporting, which is difficult to restore following injury due to a lack of blood vessels (Fabre et al, 2013). In this case, the size and shape of the implanted scaffold can be customized with the aid of software according to the patient’s needs. This review summarizes studies of 3D printing of irregularly shaped cartilage scaffolds and discusses the current status of that research, including the use of common materials, cells, and related 3D printing technologies (Scheme 2). The intend of this review is to provide guidance for future research on irregularly shaped cartilage in tissue engineering
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