Page 152 - IJB-9-1

International Journal of Bioprinting

REVIEW ARTICLE
Engineering bio-inks for 3D bioprinting cell

mechanical microenvironment

Yanshen Yang , Yuanbo Jia , Qingzhen Yang , Feng Xu *
1,2
1,2
1,2
1,2
1 The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life
Science and Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710049, P.R. China
2 Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an,
Shaanxi, 710049, P.R. China
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Composite/Multi-component Biomaterial Inks and Bioinks)

Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has become a promising approach to construct-
ing functional biomimetic tissues for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
In 3D bioprinting, bio-inks are essential for the construction of cell microenviron-
ment, thus affecting the biomimetic design and regenerative efficiency. Mechanical
properties are one of the essential aspects of microenvironment, which can be char-
acterized by matrix stiffness, viscoelasticity, topography, and dynamic mechanical
stimulation. With the recent advances in functional biomaterials, various engineered
bio-inks have realized the possibility of engineering cell mechanical microenviron-
ment in vivo. In this review, we summarize the critical mechanical cues of cell micro-
environments, review the engineered bio-inks while focusing on the selection princi-
ples for constructing cell mechanical microenvironments, and discuss the challenges
facing this field and the possible solutions for them.

*Corresponding author: Keywords: Biofabrication; Mechanical microenvironment; Bioprinting; Bio-inks
Feng Xu (fengxu@mail.xjtu.edu.cn)
Citation: Yang Y, Jia Y, Yang Q,
et al., 2023, Engineering bio-inks
for 3D bioprinting cell mechanical
microenvironment. Int J Bioprint, 1. Introduction
9(1): 632.
https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v9i1.632 In tissue engineering, using engineered biomaterials that are integrated with seed cells
is an important strategy to construct functional tissues in vitro for implantation .
[1]
Received: June 21, 2022
Accepted: August 29, 2022 However, the existing tissue engineering methods are unable to attain the expected
Published Online: October 29, therapeutic effect of ideal regenerative medicine. The reason for this is the inability
2022 to precisely regulate cell behavior to achieve regenerative needs . All processes from
[2]
Copyright: © 2022 Author(s). This in vitro functional tissue construction to post-implantation integration with the body
is an Open Access article involve complex interactions between cells and biomaterials or extracellular matrix
distributed under the terms of the [3]
Creative Commons Attribution (ECM) . A deep understanding of how cells sense and interact with the surrounding
License, permitting distribution and microenvironment is essential for tissue engineering.
reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is The state of cells in living tissues is not independent, as it is affected by the surrounding
properly cited. environment and responds accordingly. The environment at the cellular scale is
Publisher’s Note: Whioce considered to be the cell’s microenvironment. Cell microenvironment is a superposition
Publishing remains neutral with of many components, including neighboring cells, ECM, soluble factors, and physical
regard to jurisdictional claims in cues, which can be further classified as chemical and physical microenvironments . For
[4]
published maps and institutional
affiliations. example, the physiological state of skeletal muscle is influenced by the concentration of

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2023) 144 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v9i1.632