Page 295 - IJB-9-1

International Journal of Bioprinting

REVIEW ARTICLE
3D printable conductive composite inks for the

fabrication of biocompatible electrodes in tissue
engineering application

1
Jihwan Kim , Jinah Jang 1,2,3,4 *
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH),
Pohang, South Korea
2 Department of Convergence IT Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology
(POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
3 School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and
Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea
4 Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University,
Seoul, South Korea
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Composite/Multi-component Biomaterial Inks and Bioinks)

Abstract

Native tissues are affected by the microenvironment surrounding the tissue, including
electrical activities. External electrical stimulation, which is used in replicating
electrical activities and regulating cell behavior, is mainly applied in neural and cardiac
tissues due to their electrophysiological properties. The in vitro cell culture platform
with electrodes provides precise control of the stimulation property and eases the
observation of the effects on the cells. The frequently used electrodes are metal or
*Corresponding author: carbon rods, but their risk of damaging tissue and their mechanical properties that are
Jinah Jang largely different from those of native tissues hinder further applications. Biocompatible
(jinahjang@postech.ac.kr)
polymer reinforced with conductive fillers emerges as a potential solution to fabricate
Citation: Kim J, Jang J., 2023, 3D the complex structure of the platform and electrode. Conductive polymer can be
printable conductive composite inks
for the fabrication of biocompatible used as an ink in the extrusion-based printing method, thus enabling the fabrication
electrodes in tissue engineering of volumetric structures. The filler simultaneously alters the electrical and rheological
application, Int J Bioprint, 9(1): 643. properties of the ink; therefore, the amount of additional compound should be precisely
https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v9i1.643
determined regarding printability and conductivity. This review provides an overview
Received: May 31, 2022 on the rheology and conductivity change relative to the concentration of conductive
Accepted: July 10, 2022 fillers and the applications of printed electrodes. Next, we discuss the future potential
use of a cell culture platform with electrodes from in vitro and in vivo perspectives.
Published Online: November 16,
2022
Copyright: © 2022 Author(s). Keywords: Extrusion-based printing; Conductive filler; Tissue engineering;
This is an Open Access article Rheology; Conductivity
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is 1. Introduction
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: Whioce Tissue engineering has expanded human knowledge and the ability to regenerate
Publishing remains neutral with and reconstruct human organs. In addition, advancements in tissue engineering
regard to jurisdictional claims in have enabled the fabrication of tissues that mimic the original tissue function in the
published maps and institutional
affiliations. in vitro analysis and the transplantation of engineered tissues. Recent studies have

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2023) 287 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v9i1.643