By: Kiranveer Kang
Introduction
Three-dimensional (3-D) printing, also referred to as additive manufacturing or rapid prototyping, is often used in tissue engineering to generate scaffolds that repair or replace damaged tissues and organs - including the skin. Through the layer-by-layer inclusion of various materials, three-dimensional printing allows for the production of intricate structures with high accuracy. Adaptive materials that change shape or colour, emit an electrical current, become bioactive, or perform a specific function in response to external stimuli open the way for the creation of effective three-dimensional structures.
Tissue Engineering
In the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, 3-D bioprinting has been proposed as a promising new strategy for creating complex biological constructions. It aims to overcome the drawbacks of traditional tissue engineering approaches by layering biomaterials in the desired 3-D design in a precise and controlled method. 3-D bioprinting and regeneration can be used to address organ shortages, cell patterning for better tissue manufacturing, and enhanced disease modelling.
Figure 1: 3D spheroids made of delicate embryonic cell cultures floating in a “bio ink” medium, pioneered by researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland in collaboration with Roslin Cellab, a stem cell technology company. Image retrieved from A Sip of Science.
Major Benefits
We are moving towards 3-D printing decreasing organ donation shortages as it allows greater capabilities of generating acceptable organs for the recipient. The flexibility to create specially designed medical devices and equipment is the main advantage that 3-D printers offer in medical applications. The use of 3-D printing to personalize implants and prosthetics, for example, can be highly beneficial to both patients and healthcare professionals. Another major advantage of 3-D printing is the capacity to make products at a minimal price. Traditional manufacturing processes are still more cost-effective for large-scale production; however, 3-D printing is becoming increasingly cost-effective for small production runs. This is particularly important for small conventional implants or prostheses used for spinal, orthodontic, or craniofacial diseases.
Challenges
Despite the fact that 3-D bioprinting is progressing at a promising rate, with researchers working to develop new printing modalities and improve existing ones, there are still a vast array of obstacles to face. Only a few bioinks are now available that are both bioprintable and adequately reflect the tissue architecture required to restore organ function after printing. While bioinks manufactured from organically sourced hydrogels promote cell growth; synthetic hydrogels are more resilient mechanically. As a result, hybrid bioinks should be built to incorporate all of these features. Thus, the bioprinting method ought to be more cell-friendly.
Conclusion
A complete study of the mechanisms associated with wound healing, using the consistently produced skin constructs, can lead to a greater understanding of dermatological diseases. The information obtained will help to accelerate the development of bioprinting platforms that will yield skin constructs with the optimum biological functions. This offers financial benefits and increases the structures' reliability. 3-D printing and regeneration are on the route to creating positive life-changing medical advancements in the field of dermatology.
References:
Dey, M., & Ozbolat, I. T. (2020, August 18). 3D bioprinting of cells, tissues and organs. Nature News. Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-70086-y.
Tamay, D. G., Dursun Usal, T., Alagoz, A. S., Yucel, D., Hasirci, N., & Hasirci, V. (1AD, January 1). 3D and 4D printing of polymers for tissue engineering applications. Frontiers. Retrieved October 19, 2021, from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2019.00164/full.
van Kogelenberg, S., Yue, Z., Dinoro, J. N., Baker, C. S., & Wallace, G. G. (2018, May 1). Three-dimensional printing and cell therapy for Wound Repair. Advances in wound care. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5946736/.
Ventola, C. L. (2014, October). Medical applications for 3D printing: Current and projected uses. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4189697/.
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