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International Journal of Bioprinting Bioprinting for wearable tech and robot

motion control minimize errors and inconsistencies, advanced skin- and textile-based electronics with the
preserving cell viability and the mechanical properties potential for developing scalable wearables, emphasizing
of printed tissues. In particular, the integration of sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Jorgensen et al.
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machine vision algorithms into in situ bioprinting stands used six types of primary human skin cells to bioprint a
as a significant advancement within the field. Based tri-layer skin construct, including the epidermal, dermal,
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on clinical data by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hypodermal layers. Transplantation of bioprinted
and computed tomography (CT) scans, machine vision skin onto mice and porcine models enhanced wound
provides bioprinters with dynamic control over printing healing, promoted vascularization, and supported normal
processes, tailored to individual patient anatomies. These skin structure and function, suggesting potential clinical
intelligent algorithms use imaging inputs to automatically applications for wound treatment. 85
construct accurate 3D models of the target area and ensure The future of bioprinting in skin research is striving
that the bioprinted cells and biomaterials are precisely towards creating fully functional and vascularized skin,
deposited. This adaptive printing process can enhance emphasizing the integration with native tissues and
surgical applications and regenerative medicine, paving enhanced survival rates for more advanced medical
the way for advanced personalized medical treatments treatment applications.
and interventions. 81
3.2. Bioprinting of electronic skin and
3. Wearable sensors wearable sensors
3.1. Bioprinted skin The successful applications of bioprinting in skin research
The skin is the largest organ of the human body and have provided valuable insights for the development of
is essential for survival and maintaining physiological wearable e-skin and electronic sensors. E-skin, inspired
balance. It acts as a crucial barrier, shielding the internal by natural skin, is engineered to endow humans with
environment from pathogens, chemicals, and physical unprecedented multi-sensory perceptions that surpass our
injuries, and plays significant roles in thermoregulation, inherent abilities. This innovative technology integrates
vitamin D synthesis, and sensory perception. environmental sensing functions of human skin, expanding
the spectrum of perceptual abilities. Bioprinting stands as
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Artificial skin research represents one of the earliest a transformative tool in the evolution of e-skin, offering
and most successful applications of bioprinting. high precision and versatility in developing biomedical
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Bioprinting has been applied in dermatological research devices on/in the skin. Through the synchronous deposition
for skin repair, regeneration, and in situ healing, surpassing of cells and electronic components, bioprinting has the
the capabilities of traditional approaches. One major potential to incorporate advanced sensory technologies
benefit of 3D-bioprinted structures is their ability to be into skin repair. Likewise, bioprinting addresses the
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tailored to individual wound topographies, effectively challenges in fabricating compatible e-skin, particularly
overcoming the limitations of traditional skin grafts that for measuring body motion-related signals (e.g., pressure
might not conform perfectly to wound sites. Catarino and temperature). The combination of bioprinting and
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et al. utilized 3D bioprinting to embed specific structures implantable sensor technology, particularly for glucose
within artificially fabricated skin. By printing spheroids and oxygen monitoring, holds significant research value.
formed from dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and human Functional bioprinted implantable sensors that minimize
umbilical vein cells (HUVECs) into a pre-gelled dermal immune response and ensure long-term stability can be
layer containing fibroblasts, multiple elements can be utilized for collecting biomedical data (e.g., glucose and
positioned with high accuracy. As the tissue matures, it oxygen). In this regard, chronic conditions, such as
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forms structures resembling hair follicles, facilitated by diabetes and hypoxia, can be better managed. Additionally,
the migration of keratinocytes and melanocytes. Creating advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT) have
sophisticated skin models that closely resemble natural increased the prevalence and accelerated the development
skin structures could significantly advance regenerative of wearable devices for personalized healthcare. The
medicine, enhancing both grafts and testing chemical integration of bioprinting in the design and development
safety (Figure 3a). The high accuracy of 3D bioprinting of wearable devices enables precise adjustments of key
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various cell types and structural proteins in defined spatial factors, including flexibility, stretchability, implantability,
distributions can produce the desired skin heterogeneity. biocompatibility, and biodegradability.
Thus, the complex multi-layered skin architecture can be
replicated. Zhang et al. proposed a method for moisture- Bioprinting has established the foundation for
permeable wearable electronics using a 3D liquid developing advanced wearable devices. Agarwala et al.
diode (LD). The detachable design was integrated into presented a low-cost bioprinting method to fabricate a

Volume 10 Issue 6 (2024) 23 doi: 10.36922/ijb.3590