Bioprinted vascular tissue: Assessing functions from cellular, tissue to organ levels

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• 3D bioprinting is crucial for tissue fabrication, but lack of vascularization limits survival rates.
• Current bioprinted vascular structures are not suitable for transplantation.
• A comprehensive evaluation system for bioprinted vessels is missing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the synergy between bioinks and bioprinting techniques for vascular fabrication.
• To assess the function of bioprinted vascular tissue against natural blood vessels.
• To explore applications of vascular models in disease simulation and drug screening.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on bioinks and 3D bioprinting techniques for vascularization.
• Assessment of bioprinted vascular tissue function based on physiological parameters.
• Analysis of current applications, including vessel-on-a-chip models.

Main Results:

• Bioink selection and bioprinting techniques are critical for successful vascularization.
• Bioprinted vascular structures are being evaluated against natural vessel functions.
• Vascular models show promise in disease modeling and drug discovery.

Conclusions:

• Development of fully functional bioprinted blood vessels is essential for advancing tissue engineering.
• Continued research in vascular bioprinting will significantly impact regenerative medicine.
• Vascular models offer new avenues for preclinical research and personalized medicine.