Skin Bioprinting: Impending Reality or Fantasy?

Trends Biotechnol. 2016 Sep;34(9):689-699. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.04.006. Epub 2016 May 8.

Abstract

Bioprinting provides a fully automated and advanced platform that facilitates the simultaneous and highly specific deposition of multiple types of skin cells and biomaterials, a process that is lacking in conventional skin tissue-engineering approaches. Here, we provide a realistic, current overview of skin bioprinting, distinguishing facts from myths. We present an in-depth analysis of both current skin bioprinting works and the cellular and matrix components of native human skin. We also highlight current limitations and achievements, followed by design considerations and a future outlook for skin bioprinting. The potential of bioprinting with converging opportunities in biology, material, and computational design will eventually facilitate the fabrication of improved tissue-engineered (TE) skin constructs, making bioprinting skin an impending reality.

Keywords: 3D printing; additive manufacturing; bioprinting; rapid prototyping; skin tissue engineering..

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bioprinting*
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Skin Transplantation
  • Skin* / cytology
  • Skin* / growth & development
  • Skin* / metabolism
  • Tissue Engineering*
  • Tissue Scaffolds