Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2014 Sep;46(3):342-8. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezu148. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Bioprinting technology and its applications.

European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery

Young-Joon Seol, Hyun-Wook Kang, Sang Jin Lee, Anthony Atala, James J Yoo

PMID: 25061217 DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezu148

Abstract

Bioprinting technology has emerged as a powerful tool for building tissue and organ structures in the field of tissue engineering. This technology allows precise placement of cells, biomaterials and biomolecules in spatially predefined locations within confined three-dimensional (3D) structures. Various bioprinting technologies have been developed and utilized for applications in life sciences, ranging from studying cellular mechanisms to constructing tissues and organs for implantation, including heart valve, myocardial tissue, trachea and blood vessels. In this article, we introduce the general principles and limitations of the most widely used bioprinting technologies, including jetting- and extrusion-based systems. Application-based research focused on tissue regeneration is presented, as well as the current challenges that hamper clinical utility of bioprinting technology.

© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Bioprinting; Reconstruction; Regenerative medicine

MeSH terms

• Bioprinting*
• Cells, Cultured
• Humans
• Regenerative Medicine*
• Tissue Engineering*

Publication Types

• Journal Article
• Review