The Application of 3D Printing in Cardiac Patch Manufacture

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of global mortality and heart failure, underscoring the urgent need for advanced cardiac regenerative strategies. 3D bioprinting has emerged as a transformative approach for fabricating engineered cardiac patches, offering unprecedented control over their structural, mechanical, and functional properties. This review systematically examines the application of four pivotal bioprinting technologies-extrusion, embedded, electrostatic, and light-based printing-in addressing the multifunctional requirements of myocardial repair: mechanical reinforcement, electrical integration, and vascular regeneration. Through a comparative analysis of each technique's capabilities, limitations, and recent progress in bioink design and process innovation, this work highlights both current advances and persistent translational challenges. Ultimately, it provides an integrated framework to guide the development of functionally mature cardiac patches and to identify key barriers that must be overcome to realize their clinical potential.