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International Journal of Bioprinting Advancements in 3D printing

Table 2. Comparison of different materials
Materials Advantages Disadvantages
Cellulose Abundant in content Poor solubility
Chitin Abundant in content Poor solubility
Hyaluronic acid Good mechanical properties The preparation process is intricate and costly
Polyethylene High biocompatibility Poor solubility
Polypropylene Excellent electrical performance Poor antioxidant
Polyvinyl chloride Excellent electrical performance Low biocompatibility
Polyvinyl alcohol Excellent electrical performance Poor fluidity
Polymethyl methacrylate High biocompatibility The preparation process is intricate and costly
Polycaprolactone Excellent electrical performance Poor solubility
Poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) High biocompatibility The preparation process is intricate and costly
Hydrogels High biocompatibility Low biocompatibility
Biomedical ceramics High biocompatibility The preparation process is intricate and costly

engineering, significantly enhancing bone regeneration utilizes living cells as raw materials to print functional
processes. As 3D printing technology for biomedical living tissues. This approach can employ autogenic adult
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ceramics continues to mature, the potential clinical stem cells, which are induced to differentiate in vitro, as
applications for these materials are likely to expand further, the foundation for printing functional organs or tissues.
opening up new avenues for innovation in the medical This can be achieved by in vitro and in vivo means, thus
field (Table 2). overcoming the challenge of organ scarcity by generating
substitutes for malfunctioning organs or tissues. 100,101 In the
4. Applications of 3D bioprinting realm of organ transplantation, this technique stands as a
notable method for generating bone, artificial blood vessels,
As advancements in science and technology continue, skin, vascular splints, heart tissue, and cartilage structures.
organ transplantation has emerged as a lifeline for an
increasing number of individuals facing organ failure and 4.1. Artificial bone
diagnosed with malignant tumors. However, the persistent The demand for personalized customized artificial bones
shortage of donors has posed significant challenges for in clinical applications is significant due to the irregular
both patients and medical professionals. This scarcity has shapes of human bones and substantial variations in inter-
spurred the growth of underground and black-market organ individual anatomy. 102,103 Ma’s work involves femtosecond
trading. Recognizing the importance of addressing this laser-programmed 3D microrobotic prototype artificial
concern, the Chinese government has resorted to scientific musculoskeletal systems. This approach utilizes two
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approach, placing significant emphasis on developing new photosensitive materials sequentially built in predesigned
technologies in the field of organ transplantation. Statistics structures, offering a general protocol for the direct
reveal that out of the 1.5 million individuals in China printing of 3D microrobots composed of multiple
afflicted with organ failure each year, only a fraction, roughly materials. Huang et al. introduced a new surgical strategy
over 10,000 people, are qualified for organ transplantation. for anterior fixation of unstable sacral fractures assisted
Unfortunately, many of the unselected individuals are left by a minimally invasive subtropical approach using 3D
to face the increasing risk of organ deterioration or fatality printing. This approach minimizes trauma and bleeding
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while awaiting suitable donors. 98,99 In recent years, the advent while addressing complex fractures. Strehin developed a
of 3D printing technology has offered a potential solution to chondroitin sulfate-polyethylene glycol (CS-PEG) adhesive
the grave challenges encountered in organ transplantation. hydrogel with versatile biomedical applications. By
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The inception of 3D printing technology dated back to the functionalizing the carboxyl groups on the chondroitin
mid-1990s. This technique involves methodologies such as sulfate (CS) chain with n-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS),
photocuring and layering of materials to rapidly prototype adhesive hydrogels comprising biological and synthetic
a design. This emerging application technology relies on components were established. On the other hand, Dekali
computer-generated 3D digital imaging and multi-level et al. reported a reproducible bioprinting process, followed
continuous printing techniques. 3D printing for artificial by successful post-bioprinting chondrogenic differentiation
organs is rooted in this technology, which specifically using numerous human mesenchymal stem cell spheroids

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 61 doi: 10.36922/ijb.1752