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Timashev and Mironov
in Russia and the establishment of bioprinting published , and several universities introduced
[10]
research infrastructure in several Russian programs on 3D bioprinting technology. Recently,
universities and research organizations, it is Russian bioprintists also contributed to one of the
logical to assume that Russia may take the lead most comprehensive textbooks on 3D printing and
to bioprint the world’s first human organ and also biofabrication . Moreover, the commercialization
[13]
achieve the first successful clinical transplantation and clinical translation of 3D bioprinting will
of bioprinted human organ in Russia. Hence, need to be supported. It remains to be seen how
Russian researchers and engineers can compete competitive will Russian bioprintists be and how
and compete successfully. successfully established Russian research potential,
expertise and infrastructure in bioprinting field will
5 Conclusion and outlook be commercialized and clinically translated.

3D bioprinting is a rapidly emerging biomedical The special issue “Bioprinting in Russia”
technology that promises to transform the published in the International Journal of
landscape of organ transplantation. Russian Bioprinting demonstrates the broad potential of
contribution to global development of this Russian bioprintists research community which
technology cannot be understated; at least five includes the development of novel software
main achievements of Russian bioprintists deserve based on principle of function representation,
the attention of the global research community: novel bioinks based on natural polymers such as
(i) Development of new software for bioprinting fibrin and collagen, new types of 3D bioprinters,
based on function representation (see paper in laser-based bioprinting and magnetic levitational
this issue); (ii) development of natural bioinks bioprinting in space, as well as ethical aspects
(see papers in this issue); (iii) development of of bioprinting and emerging business models in
original 3D bioprinters (see papers in this issue); bioprinting. We believe that the selected papers
(iv) bioprinting of the world’s first functional will demonstrate quality and perspectives of
and vascularized organ construct – mouse bioprinting research in Russia and will support
thyroid glands ; and (v) magnetic levitational our opinion that Russia will continue to be an
[9]
bioassembly of 3D tissue constructs in the important and highly competitive player in the
condition of microgravity in space (accepted for advancements of bioprinting technology.
publication in Science Advances). Acknowledgment
For the next decade, it is logical to expect further
contribution of Russian researchers in traditional This work was supported by the Russian Foundation
areas of Russian expertise. First, bioprinting in for Basic Research grant # 18-29-17050 and by
space at the Russian segment of the International Russian academic excellence project "5-100".
Space Station will continue to advance . Second,
[12]
new type of bioprinters especially laser-based Conflict of interest
bioprinters will be developed in Russia due to
the traditional strong expertise in laser research. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Third, Russian bioprintists can capitalize on their References
initial success with bioprinting the world’s first
functional and vascularized animal organ and have 1. Murphy SV, Atala A, 2014, 3D Bioprinting of Tissues and
chances to bioprint and test in vivo the world’s first Organs. Nat Biotechnol, 32:773–85. DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2958.
functional and vascularized human organ. There are 2. Ng WL, Chua CK, Shen YF, 2019, Print me an Organ! Why
attempts to advance education and training young we are not there yet. Prog Polym Sci, 97:101145. DOI:
generations of specialists in the field of bioprinting. 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2019.101145.
The first Russian textbook in 3D printing in 3. Matai I, Kaur G, Seyedsalehi A, et al., 2020, Progress in
medicine and bioprinting has been already 3D Bioprinting Technology for Tissue/Organ Regenerative

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