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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Discovering new 3D bioprinting applications: Analyzing

the case of optical tissue phantoms

Luis Hernandez-Quintanar, Marisela Rodriguez-Salvador*

Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

Abstract: Optical tissue phantoms enable to mimic the optical properties of biological tissues for biomedical device calibration,
new equipment validation, and clinical training for the detection, and treatment of diseases. Unfortunately, current methods for
their development present some problems, such as a lack of repeatability in their optical properties. Where the use of three-
dimensional (3D) printing or 3D bioprinting could address these issues. This paper aims to evaluate the use of this technology
in the development of optical tissue phantoms. A competitive technology intelligence methodology was applied by analyzing
Scopus, Web of Science, and patents from January 1, 2000, to July 31, 2018. The main trends regarding methods, materials,
and uses, as well as predominant countries, institutions, and journals, were determined. The results revealed that, while 3D
printing is already employed (in total, 108 scientific papers and 18 patent families were identified), 3D bioprinting is not yet
applied for optical tissue phantoms. Nevertheless, it is expected to have significant growth. This research gives biomedical
scientists a new window of opportunity for exploring the use of 3D bioprinting in a new area that may support testing of new
equipment and development of techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Keywords: competitive technology intelligence; additive manufacturing; biophotonics; scientometrics; patentometrics

*Correspondence to: Marisela Rodriguez-Salvador, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Mexico;
marisrod@tec.mx

Received: November 28, 2018; Accepted: December 18, 2018; Published Online: December 31, 2018

Citation: Hernandez-Quintanar L, Rodriguez-Salvador M, 2019. Discovering new 3D bioprinting applications: Analyzing the
case of optical tissue phantoms. Int J Bioprint, 5(1): 178. http://dx.doi.org/10.18063/IJB.v5i1.178

1. Introduction new products, placing special emphasis on how they
will be conceived, manufactured, tested, and applied in
Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as additive many areas, such as the military, automotive industry,
manufacturing , was introduced >30 years ago, in 1984, electrical device engineering, and medicine . One of the
[1]
[5]
when Charles Hull invented 3D lithography . 3D printing current technologies employing 3D printing for health
[2]
is defined by the American Society for Testing and care is biofabrication. This term refers to a relatively
Materials (ASTM) as a “process of joining materials to new process that focuses on the concept of personalized
make parts from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, medicine. According to Jürgen et al. , it can be defined
[6]
as opposed to subtractive manufacturing and formative as “the automated generation of biologically functional
manufacturing methodologies” . The process starts with products with the structural organization from living
[3]
the creation of a 3D model on a computer, after which, it cells, bioactive molecules, biomaterials, and cell
is sent to a 3D printer . aggregates such as microtissues or hybrid cell-material
[4]
The competitive dynamics of 3D printing may alter constructs, through bioprinting, and subsequent tissue
the modus operandi of multiple industries, and its maturation processes.” Under this approach, according
effects will be observed in the nature of the design of to Mandrycky et al. , 3D bioprinting is considered a
[7]
Discovering new 3D bioprinting applications: Analyzing the case of optical tissue phantoms. © 2019 Hernandez-Quintanar and Rodriguez-Salvador. This is
an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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