3D-Printed Biomaterials for Guided Tissue Regeneration

Fabrication of 3D scaffolds with interconnected macro-/microporosity, compositional gradient, biological cues, and precise geometric configurations matching with that of a tissue defect, along with the choice of appropriate biomaterials, is central to the success of scaffold-guided tissue-regeneration strategies. Customized high-speed 3D-printing technology enables efficient fabrication of 3D scaffolds for regenerative-medicine applications. In addition to recent technological advances in 3D-printing methods and instrumentation, progress has been made in the expansion of printable biomaterials and cell-laden bioinks. Here, a brief overview of the 3D-printing techniques most commonly used for biomedical applications is given, followed by a discussion of common bioceramics, natural biopolymers, and synthetic degradable thermoplastic polymers, as well as their cell/biofactor-laden composites used for 3D printing. Advantages and limitations of these printing techniques and bioinks for various tissue repair/regeneration applications are highlighted.