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International Journal of Bioprinting 3D printing and bioprinting in urology

sequentially from bottom to top to create a physical replica online database (Clarivate). The searches were conducted
of the digital model. With the reform and innovation of 3D to find high-quality articles published in English between
printing technology, several types of 3D printing techniques January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022. Three search
with different characteristics have been developed, such as strategies were conducted for “3D printing” (search strategy
the conventional fused deposition modeling (FDM) for #1), “3D printing in urology” (search strategy #2), and “3D
hot melt extrusion deposition of polymer materials, digital bioprinting in urology” (search strategy #3), respectively, as
light processing (DLP) for photo-crosslinking molding, shown in Table 1. These three search strategies yielded only
and bioprinting/biofabrication for processing biomaterials research articles, and other publication types, including
and cellular bioink [2,5,6] . review papers, conference papers, conference abstracts,
3D bioprinting, also known as biofabrication and editorial materials, book chapters, etc., were not included
biomanufacturing, is developed from 3D printing by unless they overlap with research papers. The topic subject
adding cells, proteins, growth factors, and biomaterials (TS) term “3D printing” and its near-synonyms (such as
to the printing ink, and its purpose is to create samples “three-dimensional printing” and “direct ink writing”)
with specific biological functions. The development of were used to retrieve publications on 3D printing. The
3D bioprinting can be divided into five stages based on TS term “3D bioprinting” and its near-synonyms (such
the nature of products : (1) biomedical in vitro devices as “biofabrication” and “biomanufacturing”) were used to
[7]
without requiring biocompatibility; (2) biocompatible but retrieve publications on 3D bioprinting. The title (TI) and
non-degradable products; (3) biocompatible, degradable, abstract (AB) terms including “urology” and its involved
and absorbable products; (4) cells as ink components; organs including nephrology, prostate, kidney, ureter,
and (5) cellular microspheres and micro-organs . In this bladder, urethra, penile, penis, and “adrenal gland” were
[7]
review, we define that 3D printing includes stages 1 to 3, placed in the search strategies for urology. This research
and 3D bioprinting includes stages 4 and 5. was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items
for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA)
3D printing and bioprinting have been used in a variety statement, as illustrated in Figure 1.
of applications including architecture, flexible electronics, Search results (“3D printing” in search strategy #1)
tissue engineering (such as bone, meniscus, and blood show that, as shown in Figure 2A, 3D printing has received
vessels), and manufacturing of mechanical devices [8-15] . increasing attention and has been widely researched in recent
However, the application of 3D printing and bioprinting years. Moreover, Figure 2B further demonstrates the level of
in urology is relatively rare [16-18] . The urological system, as attention 3D printing has received, by means of the number
one of the important systems of the body, plays a vital role of highly cited papers in the Essential Science Indicators
in maintaining normal life activities. Urological organs are (ESI) of the Web of Science Core Collection. Other search
multi-tubular, heterogeneous, and anisotropic. 3D printing results (“3D printing and urology” in search strategy #2,
and bioprinting, as well as non-traditional subtractive Figure 3A; “3D bioprinting in urology” in search strategy
manufacturing methods, offer flexibility in designing and #3, Figure 3B) indicate that the research and exploration
fabricating complex scaffolds. Urological organ damage of 3D printing and bioprinting in urology is increasing.
would directly or indirectly affect human life and health, so However, the use of 3D printing in the field of urology
it is necessary to explore the potential of 3D printing and accounts for only about 1/5000 of its overall use in various
bioprinting in addressing urological disorders. Overall, fields. There are no highly cited papers on 3D printing in
this paper reviews the research progress of 3D printing urology. Therefore, the application of 3D printing in urology
and bioprinting technology in urology in the past 10 years remains a research gap awaiting to be addressed.
(2013–2022), covering urological reconstruction models for
preoperative planning, surgical teaching, medical devices
for sizing customization and reducing medical costs, and 3. Characteristics of various 3D printing
tissue-engineered bioscaffolds for mimicking urological technologies
organs. It is believed that 3D printing and bioprinting have
broader application prospects in urology in the future and In recent years, the rapid development of 3D printing
have the opportunity to solve urological diseases. provides the technological basis for building a bridge
between engineering, biology, materials science, and
2. Search strategy clinical medicine. 3D printing technology is one of the
crucial elements of multi-disciplinary integration to solve
All publications used in this study were obtained by clinical problems. The working process of 3D printing
performing searches on the Science Citation Index- is shown in Figure 4. First, a target object is scanned
Expanded (SCI-E) in the Web of Science Core Collection by instruments such as micro-computed tomography

Volume 9 Issue 6 (2023) 326 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijb.0969