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International Journal of Bioprinting Robotic in situ bioprinting

production. As an extension of additive manufacturing, for in situ bioprinting. Among these, computer-controlled
bioprinting is a state-of-the-art technology that involves robots, which can be programmed to aid in biomaterials
layer-by-layer deposition of a mixture of cells, matrix, and positioning and manipulation, have shown effectiveness
nutrients to produce living tissues and potentially whole in simplifying and improving the in situ operation .
[15]
organs, such as blood vessels, bones, heart, and skin . By Robotic-assisted operation facilitates in situ bioprinting
[4]
means of this, sophisticated 3D tissues and organs with with higher accuracy, flexibility, and control. To date,
recapitulated biological functions can be constructed robotic arms with Cartesian, articulated, and parallel
for numerous applications, including drug screening , configurations have been developed for biofabrication.
[5]
disease modeling , pathological and pharmacological Moreover, technologies of robotic-assisted minimally
[6]
analysis , as well as regenerative medicine . The use invasive surgery can be integrated with 3D bioprinting
[8]
[7]
of bioprinting in medical training and testing tasks has to improve printing accuracy and dexterity. Particularly,
advanced in the past two decades. Manifold reports have by combining progressive innovations of biomaterials,
demonstrated the successful fabrication of various tissues automation, digitalization, and tissue engineering, robotic-
and organs for streamlining early surgical planning assisted in situ bioprinting is becoming more attractive
[9]
models and permanent implants, as well as cell-seeded and realistic [16,17] , and a number of studies have verified its
biocompatible scaffolds or in vitro biological models exceptional potential for use in clinical settings [18-20] .
(Figure 1). To create an environment that supports fast
and efficient cell growth, cells are often seeded around In this review, we discuss the progress of in situ
scaffolds made of biodegradable polymers or collagen, bioprinting, with emphasis on robotic-assisted
which eventually grow into functional tissue . However, approaches and platforms. The mainstream modalities
[10]
in vitro 3D scaffolds have many inherent limitations with and advanced methodologies for in situ 3D bioprinting
regard to their actual clinical applications . Since 2007, are introduced, and the prototypes and commercial
[11]
in situ bioprinting (i.e., in vivo bioprinting) has been products based on different configurations, including
proposed based on inkjet technology . In situ bioprinting Cartesian coordinate, articulated, and parallel robots,
[12]
can be defined as the direct printing of living cells, growth for in situ fabrication are compared and discussed. The
factors, and biomaterials to create or repair living tissues classic utilizations and potential application models for
or organs at a defect site . This technology involves robotic-assisted fabrication of in situ tissues and organs,
[13]
complex shapes, curved surfaces, or even more intricate such as cartilage, bone, skin, and liver, are elucidated. In
geometries with heterogeneous compositions, whereas addition, we briefly discuss the existing challenges and
conventional 3D printing usually adds materials layer- provide suggestions for future improvements from the
by-layer to a flat substrate . Robotic-assisted automated perspectives of individualized medicine, robotics, and
[14]
printers or handheld printers are the leading platforms information science.

Figure 1. Development of bioprinting.

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2023) 99 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v9i1.629