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In Situ 3D Printing: Opportunities with Silk Inks
Francesca Agostinacchio1, Xuan Mu2, Sandra Dirè3
1Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy; BIOTech Research Center and European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Trento, via Delle Regole 101, Trento 38123, Italy.
Trends in Biotechnology
|December 6, 2020
Summary
Silk fibroin shows promise as a biomaterial ink for 3D in situ printing in tissue regeneration. Its unique properties offer advantages for patient-specific applications in the operating room.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Surgical Technology
Background:
- In situ 3D printing offers patient-specific solutions directly within the operating room.
- Current limitations in ink formulation and optimization hinder widespread adoption of in situ 3D printing.
- Silk fibroin presents a promising biomaterial for advanced 3D printing applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of silk fibroin as a biomaterial ink for 3D in situ printing.
- To highlight the advantages of silk fibroin for tissue regeneration applications.
- To discuss the future directions for silk-based in situ 3D printing.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on silk fibroin properties and 3D printing techniques.
- Analysis of silk fibroin's suitability for in situ bioprinting based on its characteristics.
- Exploration of silk fibroin's self-assembly and mechanical properties relevant to bioprinting.
Main Results:
- Silk fibroin offers diverse formulation possibilities and aqueous processability.
- Tunable mechanical properties and self-assembly via biophysical adsorption are key advantages.
- Silk fibroin avoids the need for exogenous chemical or photochemical sensitizers.
Conclusions:
- Silk fibroin is a highly suitable candidate biomaterial ink for 3D in situ printing.
- Its unique protein polymer properties support advancements in tissue regeneration.
- Further research can optimize silk fibroin inks for clinical translation in regenerative medicine.
