3D Tissue Constructs from the Ground Up for Game Changing New Applications in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Abstract

In view of the very expensive modern healthcare system, sudden loss or failure of organs and tissues could pose a very difficult and costly medical problem to patients. Further, the limited supply of organs globally that a patient can afford for replacement in the event of an organ failure makes the problem even more challenging and complicated. These medical and healthcare challenges have triggered research and developments into tissue engineering to advance the field of regenerative medicine. Especially, the research focus has been on the design, development and optimization of a cell-scaffold-microenvironment to promote the regeneration of various types of tissue including skin, cartilage, bone, tendon and cardiac tissue, to name a few. Studies have been undertaken to produce functional three-dimensional (3D) tissue substitutes or constructs that are based on bio scaffolds from the ground up. To this end, bioprinting strategies have been considered for fabrication of complex 3D functional living tissues or artificial organs. Here, we describe some notable advances in laser bioprinting enabled tissue engineering, which is a rapidly emerging field in 3D bio fabrication technology for applications in regenerative medicine.