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International Journal of Bioprinting Bioprinted tissue-on-a-chip in drug screening

Bioink, derived from biocompatible and natural sources, 3D-bioprinted organ-on-a-chip for drug screening, which is
is a bridge that connects 3D bioprinting and microfluidic the advanced manifestation of bioink, is rarely summarized.
chips, enabling the creation of hierarchical tissue Therefore, in this review, we focus on the advantages
constructions and facilitating communication among cells, and applications of combining these two technologies
molecules, and artificial stimulations. Hydrogel-based and illustrate the traits of the tumor microenvironment,
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bioinks with high water content have garnered a growing such as cell components, physical properties, and bionic
interest in cell proliferation and differentiation studies. The behaviors. Bioinks of various classes, which can recapitulate
popularity of bioink in 3D bioprinting can be attributed extracellular matrix (ECM) functions, are also presented in
to the ease of adjusting their performance through factors this review. The advantages of the combined technologies
such as pH, temperature, concentration, or chemical are elaborated following a brief narrative for 3D bioprinting
modification. Besides, these bioinks are compatible and microfluidic technology. Moreover, relevant studies on
with biological substances and can establish the overall drug screening are summarized to explain key concepts.
characteristics of organ or tissue microenvironments. In the end, we discuss the application prospects of 3D
Moreover, hydrogel-based bioinks exhibit a transition from constructs fabricated by combined technologies in the field
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a liquid to a gel state via physical and chemical actions. of precision medicine.
This property, along with shear thinning behavior, makes The fabrication process of disease/organ-on-a-chip and
bioinks well-suited for the construction of entities with the their applications are depicted in Figure 1.
help of bioprinting. Once bioprinted, microarchitectures
created by bioinks are perfused and stimulated by 2. Tumor microenvironment
microfluidic systems with precise control.
The most critical problem solved by functional hydrogels
3D bioprinting and microfluidic technology have been in tissue engineering is their ability to provide a water-
used to co-produce external models. The application of rich microenvironment for targeted cells, facilitating
3D-bioprinted organoids and organ-on-a-chip made by the development of artificial tumor microenvironment
microfluidic technology has been reviewed. However, the (TME) or organ models. Hydrogel-based bioinks serve

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the fabrication process of disease/organ-on-a-chip and their applications.

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 174 doi: 10.36922/ijb.1951