Alginate-based 3D bioprinting strategies for structure-function integrated tissue regeneration

Alginate-based biomaterials have been widely used for tissue repair and regeneration, owing to their tunability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cytotoxicity. With the rapid advancement of bioprinting technology, alginate has increasingly become a preferred bioink selection for fabricating various tissue substitutes. Notably, through emerging modifications or blending with other biomaterials, alginate bioinks can achieve substantial enhancements in printability and physicochemical properties, in turn, providing a favorable microenvironment for seed cells, achieving the integrated structural and functional repair of target tissues. In this review, we systematically analyzed recent advances in alginate-based 3D bioprinting strategies for tissue regeneration. First, we reported the synthesis and preparation of alginate as a bioink, 3D bioprinting techniques, alginate-based bioinks, and seed cell selection. Furthermore, the challenges and future perspectives of alginate-based 3D bioprinting strategies, including the construction of the vascular network, modification of alginate's physicochemical properties, optimization of printing methods, local delivery of active factors, seed cells in alginate bioinks, 4D bioprinting, artificial intelligence, and clinical translation, were also discussed. This review establishes a comprehensive framework that serves as a blueprint for the development and application of alginate-based bioinks in bioprinting. By synthesizing cutting-edge research and emerging trends, this review offers actionable insights into alginate-based 3D bioprinting strategies for structure-function integrated tissue regeneration.