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International Journal of Bioprinting Bioprinted organ-on-a-chip with biomaterials

boast a resolution of 10–100 µm, making them suitable for and its continuous development can accelerate the
creating precise structures. Additionally, these companies commercialization of 3D-printed organs-on-chip.
commercialize various hydrogels, as outlined in Table 4.
However, the associated equipment is characterized by high 5. Conclusion
costs, complexity in repair procedures, intricate operational This article highlights the importance and benefits of
methods, and a lack of manualized printing conditions for using 3D bioprinting technology for organ-on-a-chip
each bioink. Additionally, several companies are actively fabrication. It describes the advantages, disadvantages,
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formulating strategies to commercialize in vitro organ and features of the latest biomaterials suitable for precise
models while concurrently addressing cost reduction organ simulation, aiding in the selection of appropriate
challenges. For example, RegenHU manages BioFactory® biomaterials for organ-on-a-chip fabrication. Additionally,
to expose users to 3D printing of skeletal muscle tissue, it sheds light on the current model’s limitations while
aiming to enhance model quality through user feedback. identifying potential possibilities and future prospects in
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Advanced Solutions Life Sciences provides a matching the relevant research field.
service for collaborators engaged in joint efforts on 3D
tissue design and construction of in vitro models. Bio3D 3D bioprinting technology excels in the accurate control
147
Technologies and LightFab offer customized devices of spatial distribution and layer-by-layer assembly of the
using open-source materials. 19,180 Despite these efforts, ECM. It offers the flexibility of using various biocompatible
no company has yet achieved commercial success in the materials, creating organ-specific microenvironments,
endeavor to market 3D-printed organs-on-a-chips owing and achieving tissue-specific functions and 3D cell arrays.
to existing technical limitations. 147 Various 3D bioprinting technologies can be used for organ-
on-a-chip fabrication, and selecting an appropriate 3D
However, manufacturing chips with highly upgraded bioprinting method, considering the design and application
functions is possible by continuously modifying purpose of the organ-on-a-chip, is essential for establishing
previously developed organ-on-a-chip and 3D bioprinting a reliable 3D culture model. Despite its potential, 3D
technology. The resulting organs-on-a-chip can be applied bioprinting technology necessitates extensive validation
for fabricating more functional organs-on-chips, such and development. Therefore, improvements in existing
as multiple-organ-on-a-chip that can implement the 3D bioprinting technologies via integration with other
crosstalk of multiple organs. Organs-on-a-chip are also mechanical technologies, biomaterials, and new cell sources
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used to fabricate disease-on-a-chip, which is valuable are necessary to establish an integrated 3D bioprinting
for drug development. 165,182 Additionally, organs-on-a- technology with high throughput, accuracy, and resolution.
chip can be combined with a lab-on-a-chip to perform Advances in 3D bioprinting technology will facilitate the
in situ biochemical assays in a drug-screening process. fabrication of more physiologically relevant and precise
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Organ-on-a-chip fabrication through 3D bioprinting is organs-on-a-chip. This progress is expected to accelerate
expected to be widely applied for developing drugs for the commercialization of these models and their practical
various intractable diseases and personalized medicine, use in drug discovery for treating various human diseases.

Table 4. Bioprinter and bioink manufacturing companies 176
Bioprinter Company (nation) Printing method/Resolution Bioink
3D-Bioplotter ™ EnvisionTec (Germany) Extrusion-based/100 μm Hydrogels
BioScaffolder GeSim Extrusion-based/25 μm Alginate/methylcellulose
(Germany)
BioBot 1 BioBots Extrusion-based/100 μm Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate,
(USA) GelMA, Pluronic®
INKREDIBLE+ CELLINK Extrusion-based/50–100 μm Alginate
(Sweden)
Biofactory ™ RegenHU Extrusion-based & inkjet/60 μm Bioink , Osteoink ™
™
3DDiscovery ™ (Switzerland)
NovoGen MMX bioprinter ™ Organovo Inkjet/20 μm Various hydrogels
(USA)
INVIVO Rokit Extrusion-based/50–100 μm Alginate/collagen
(South Korea)

Volume 10 Issue 1 (2024) 38 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.1972