Click chemistry for 3D bioprinting.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Bioinks are crucial for fabricating 3D scaffolds in regenerative medicine, enabling controlled cell and macromolecule incorporation.
• Traditional crosslinking methods can compromise bioink cytocompatibility, limiting their application.
• Click chemistry presents a bio-orthogonal approach to overcome these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of various click chemistries in specific bioprinting techniques.
• To identify major bioinks developed using click chemistry.
• To discuss current challenges and future trends in click chemistry-based biofabrication.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on click chemistry applications in bioink development.
• Analysis of different bioprinting techniques utilizing click chemistry.
• Identification and categorization of bioinks based on employed click reactions.

Main Results:

• Click chemistry enables the development of well-tuned bioinks without problematic crosslinkers.
• This approach maintains favorable gelation and degradation rates, crucial for tissue engineering.
• The bio-orthogonal nature of click chemistry enhances cell viability within scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• Click chemistry is a valuable tool for creating advanced bioinks with improved cytocompatibility and functionality.
• The review provides a resource for selecting appropriate click chemistries for specific bioink applications.
• Further research into click chemistry holds significant promise for advancing tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.