Page 79 - IJB-10-2
P. 79

International Journal of Bioprinting                                         Advancements in 3D printing




            human organs emerges as a promising trajectory that   transformative breakthroughs in cancer treatment and
            could revolutionize the field of organ transplantation.  the fabrication of artificial organs is far from concluded.
               Currently, the field of organ fabrication through 3D   The  complexities  inherent  in  cancer,  along  with  the
            bioprinting is still in its nascent stages, with numerous   multifaceted intricacies of organ functionality, present
            underlying mechanisms yet to be fully elucidated. While   formidable challenges that necessitate continued
            successful achievements  have been made  in  printing   dedication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative
            simpler tissues such as cartilage and skin, considerable   approaches. Nonetheless, the fusion of 3D bioprinting and
            limitations persist when attempting to print organs with   advanced biomedical research positions us on a promising
            intricate functionalities, such as liver, heart, and kidneys.   trajectory, guiding us toward future breakthroughs that
            Presently, the focus lies in reproducing the structural form   hold the potential to reshape the landscape of cancer
            of the organ, but the replication of complex physiological   treatment and organ manufacturing.
            functions remains an ongoing challenge. Aspects like   6.3. Construction of in vitro physiological system
            blood circulation, efficient oxygen and nutrient delivery   Microphysiological  systems,  also  commonly  known  as
            to tissues, and timely elimination of metabolic waste prove   organ-on-a-chip platforms, are  in vitro constructs that
            intricate to replicate. Consequently, achieving artificial   emulate the interconnections between diverse human tissues
            organs that emulate the capabilities of natural tissues and   and organs. Each of these systems is meticulously fashioned
            organs necessitates the convergence of 3D bioprinting   to replicate both the configuration and functionality of
            with microfluidic technology, organ chips, and other   a distinct human organ or internal organ section. These
            related approaches. This underscores the requirement for   constructs are interconnected through microfluidic
            continued exploration and research by numerous scholars   networks. Their capabilities encompass the emulation
            in the quest to develop functional artificial organs.  and examination of interactions, such as those of drug–

            6.2. Drug screening                                cell, cell–cell, and organ–organ, within an in vitro setting,
            Absolutely, 3D bioprinting technology holds immense   demonstrating an exceptional level of physiological fidelity.
            potential in the realm of drug screening. As 3D       Microphysiological  systems  span  a  spectrum  of
            bioprinting techniques advance, so does the refinement   technological domains, including microfluidic chips, stem
            of 3D cell culture methods, subsequently catalyzing the   cell biology, 3D microarchitectures/matrices, engineering
            development of sophisticated  in vitro drug screening   of multicellular systems, diverse bioassay methodologies,
            models. This technology transcends the limitations   database  tools,  and computational  models  catering to
            of traditional single-layer cell cultures, offering the   singular or multiple organ systems. The paradigm of
            capability  to  intricately  mimic  the  microenvironment   microphysiological systems is poised to bring about
            and material structure of cells within the body. This   a  paradigm  shift  in  fundamental  biology, physiology,
            heightened fidelity in cell culture facilitates more   pharmacology,  toxicology,  and  medical  research.  The
            accurate and intuitive representations of physiological   emphasis of microphysiological systems should be
            conditions, culminating in optimal conditions for drug   on devising tools that are physiologically relevant,
            screening and the mitigation of treatment-related risks,   straightforward, reproducible,  and  economical, thereby
            particularly in the context of cancer. By harnessing the   benefiting the entire scientific community.
            power of 3D bioprinting, the landscape of drug screening
            is significantly enhanced, enabling researchers to explore   6.4. Transition from structural to functional
            and assess potential treatments with heightened precision   bioprinting
            and reliability.                                   3D bioprinting is an advanced technology that combines
                                                               biological materials with biocompatible scaffold materials
               Indeed, the in vitro tumor models engendered through
            3D bioprinting technology offer a remarkable advancement   to create biological tissues or organs with specific structures
                                                               and functions. In this field, there are several challenges, and
            in accurately emulating the human physiological context.   one of them is the transition from structural to functional
            These models intricately replicate the dynamic spread of   bioprinting.
            tumor cells within the human body, enhancing the efficacy
            of drug screening procedures. The progression of research   Potential solutions to achieve this transition include:
            in this field has even extended to encompass the intricate   (i)   Cell viability and differentiation. The structures
            microenvironment existing within tumors.
                                                                    created through 3D printing may have adverse effects
               While these achievements signify notable strides,    on cell viability and differentiation. Solutions involve
            it is crucial to acknowledge that the journey toward    improving the formulation of bioinks to enhance cell



            Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024)                        71                                doi: 10.36922/ijb.1752
   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84