An Overview of Inkjet Bioprinting

Abstract

Three dimensional printing has remarkable potential as a fabrication method in creating scaffolds for tissue engineering. Recent advances in medical field have enabled 3D printing of biocompatible materials, cells and supporting components into complex 3D functional living tissues. 3D bioprinting is being applied to regenerative medicine to address the necessity for tissues and organs suitable for transplantation. 3D bioprinting involves creating scaffolds layer-by-layer by depositing a bioink which is a mixture of cells, biocompatible polymers and biomolecules. The major component of the 3D bioprinting is the bioink, which is crucial for the development of functional organs or tissue structures. The bio-inks used in 3D bioprinting technology require so many properties which are essential and need to be considered during the selection. The bio-ink maintains a stable cell suspension, preventing the settling and aggregation of cells that usually impedes cell printing, whilst meeting the stringent fluid property requirements needed to enable printing even from many-nozzle commercial inkjet print heads.