Biocomposite Inks for 3D Printing

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has evolved massively during the last years. The 3D printing technologies offer various advantages including: i) tailor-made design ii) rapid prototyping and iii) manufacturing of complex structures. Importantly 3D printing is currently finding its potential in tissue engineering wound dressings tissue models for drug testing prosthesis and biosensors to name a few. One important factor is the optimized composition of inks that can facilitate the deposition of cells fabrication of vascularized tissue and the structuring of complex constructs that are similar to functional organs. Biocomposite inks can include synthetic and natural polymers such as poly (ε-caprolactone) polylactic acid collagen hyaluronic acid alginate nanocellulose and may be complemented with cross-linkers to stabilize the constructs and with bioactive molecules to add functionality. Inks that contain living cells are referred to as bioinks and the process as 3D bioprinting. Some of the key aspects of the formulation of bioinks are e.g. the tailoring of mechanical properties biocompatibility and the rheological behavior of the ink which may affect the cell viability proliferation and cell differentiation.