Three-Dimensional Bioprinting Applications for Bone Tissue Engineering

The skeletal system is a key support structure within the body. Bones have unique abilities to grow and regenerate after injury. Some injuries or degeneration of the tissues cannot rebound and must be repaired by the implantation of foreign objects following injury or disease. This process is invasive and does not always improve the quality of life of the patient. New techniques have arisen that can improve bone replacement or repair. 3D bioprinting employs a printer capable of printing biological materials in multiple directions. 3D bioprinting potentially requires multiple steps and additional support structures, which may include the use of hydrogels for scaffolding. In this review, we discuss normal bone physiology and pathophysiology and how bioprinting can be adapted to further the field of bone tissue engineering.