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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Discovering the Latest Scientific Pathways on Tissue

Spheroids: Opportunities to Innovate

Marisela Rodriguez-Salvador*, Baruc Emet Perez-Benitez, Karen Marcela Padilla-Aguirre

Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, CP 64849, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico

Abstract: Tissue spheroids consist of a three-dimensional model of cells which is capable of imitating the complicated
composition of healthy and unhealthy human tissue. Due to their unique properties, they can bring innovative solutions to
tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, where they can be used as building blocks for the formation of organ and
tissue models used in drug experimentation. Considering the rapid transformation of the health industry, it is crucial to assess
the research dynamics of this field to support the development of innovative applications. In this research, a scientometric
analysis was performed as part of a Competitive Technology Intelligence methodology, to determine the main applications of
tissue spheroids. Papers from Scopus and Web of Science published between 2000 and 2019 were organized and analyzed.
In total, 868 scientific publications were identified, and four main categories of application were determined. Main subject
areas, countries, cities, authors, journals, and institutions were established. In addition, a cluster analysis was performed to
determine networks of collaborations between institutions and authors. This article provides insights into the applications of
cell aggregates and the research dynamics of this field, which can help in the decision-making process to incorporate emerging
and innovative technologies in the health industry.
Keywords: Scientometric analysis; Competitive technology intelligence; Bioprinting; Cell aggregates; Bioink

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

Received: December 16, 2020; Accepted: January 19, 2021; Published Online: January 29, 2021
Citation: Rodriguez-Salvador M, Perez-Benitez BE, Padilla-Aguirre KM, 2021, Discovering the Latest Scientific Pathways
on Tissue Spheroids: Opportunities to Innovate. Int J Bioprint, 7(1):331. http://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v7i1.331

1. Introduction cells with pore networks to deliver components such as
drug or nutrients .
[4]
Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as Ng et al. identify seven main technologies for 3D
[5]
three-dimensional (3D) printing, is a rapidly growing area bioprinting: extrusion, stereolithography, laser-assisted,
that fabricates a wide range of structures and complex inkjet, microvalve-based bioprinting, two-photon
geometries by depositing successive layers of materials on polymerization microfluidic printing, and acoustic
top of each other [1,2] . In the medical field, 3D bioprinting bioprinting. The main working foundation for the first
refers to different AM techniques able to print living cells five techniques is:
and materials, in a specified location . 3D bioprinting (i) Extrusion: pneumatic-or mechanical extrusion,
[1]
has brought new solutions to mimic the heterogeneous loading of bio-inks into cartridges
and complex native tissues. Its main goal is to develop (ii) Stereolithography: photo-polymerization of photo-
3D living human constructs with biological and physical initiators, loading of bio-inks into vat
properties that emulate the human tissues, being a solution (iii) Laser-assisted: localized vaporization of energy-
to repair tissue defects and restore organ structure and absorbing layer, coating of homogeneous ribbon layer
function . Through this innovative technology, constructs, (iv) Inkjet: use of actuators to overcome surface tension,
[3]
or implants tailored to the geometrically complex and loading of bio-inks into cartridges
irregular shapes of the native tissues can be produced using (v) Microvalve-based bioprinting: use of actuators to
computer designs or medical images. In addition, it is also overcome surface tension, loading of bio-inks into
possible to create biological connectivity by embedding cartridges.

© 2021 Rodriguez-Salvador, et al. 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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