Advances in tumor microenvironment: Applications and challenges of 3D bioprinting.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) assumes a pivotal role in the treatment of oncological diseases, given its intricate interplay of diverse cellular components and extracellular matrices. This dynamic ecosystem poses a serious challenge to traditional research methods in many ways, such as high research costs, inefficient translation, poor reproducibility, and low modeling success rates. These challenges require the search for more suitable research methods to accurately model the TME, and the emergence of 3D bioprinting technology is transformative and an important complement to these traditional methods to precisely control the distribution of cells, biomolecules, and matrix scaffolds within the TME. Leveraging digital design, the technology enables personalized studies with high precision, providing essential experimental flexibility. Serving as a critical bridge between in vitro and in vivo studies, 3D bioprinting facilitates the realistic 3D culturing of cancer cells. This comprehensive article delves into cutting-edge developments in 3D bioprinting, encompassing diverse methodologies, biomaterial choices, and various 3D tumor models. Exploration of current challenges, including limited biomaterial options, printing accuracy constraints, low reproducibility, and ethical considerations, contributes to a nuanced understanding. Despite these challenges, the technology holds immense potential for simulating tumor tissues, propelling personalized medicine, and constructing high-resolution organ models, marking a transformative trajectory in oncological research.

Advancement in Cancer Vasculogenesis Modeling through 3D Bioprinting Technology.

Cancer vasculogenesis is a pivotal focus of cancer research and treatment given its critical role in tumor development, metastasis, and the formation of vasculogenic microenvironments. Traditional approaches to investigating cancer vasculogenesis face significant challenges in accurately modeling intricate microenvironments. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology present promising solutions to these challenges. This review provides an overview of cancer vasculogenesis and underscores the importance of precise modeling. It juxtaposes traditional techniques with 3D bioprinting technologies, elucidating the advantages of the latter in developing cancer vasculogenesis models. Furthermore, it explores applications in pathological investigations, preclinical medication screening for personalized treatment and cancer diagnostics, and envisages future prospects for 3D bioprinted cancer vasculogenesis models. Despite notable advancements, current 3D bioprinting techniques for cancer vasculogenesis modeling have several limitations. Nonetheless, by overcoming these challenges and with technological advances, 3D bioprinting exhibits immense potential for revolutionizing the understanding of cancer vasculogenesis and augmenting treatment modalities.

Application and Progress of Cultured Models of Gallbladder Carcinoma.

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a malignant tumor of the biliary system that is aggressive, difficult to detect early, and has a low surgical resection rate and poor prognosis. Appropriate in vitro growth models are expected to focus on the study of the biological behavior and assess treatment effects. Nonetheless, cancer initiation, progression, and invasion include spatiotemporal changes and changes in the cell microenvironment intracellular communication, and intracellular molecules, making the development of in vitro growth models very challenging. Recent advances in biomaterial methods and tissue engineering, particularly advances in bioprinting procedures, have paved the way for advances in the creative phase of in vitro cancer research. To date, an increasing number of cultured models of gallbladder disease have emerged, such as two-dimensional (2D) GBC growth cell cultures, three-dimensional (3D) GBC growth cell cultures, xenograft models, and 3D bioprinting methods. These models can serve as stronger platforms, focusing on tumor growth initiation, the association with the microenvironment, angiogenesis, motility, aggression, and infiltration. Bioprinted growth models can also be used for high-throughput drug screening and validation, as well as translational opportunities for individual cancer therapy. This study focused on the exploration, progress, and significance of the development of GBC cultural models. We present our views on the shortcomings of existing models, investigate new innovations, and plan future improvements and application possibilities for cancer models.

The significance of biomacromolecule alginate for the 3D printing of hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Natural biopolymers have been widely employed as biomaterial ink hydrogels for three-dimensional (3D) extrusion bioprinting in the preparation of the next generation of bioengineering materials for healthcare applications. Alginate is a linear anionic polysaccharide with favourable properties, such as: typical rheological (gelling, viscosifying, and stabilizing dispersions) characteristics, biodegradability and biocompatibility properties. However, in order to improve alginate applicability for practical biomaterial/bio ink for advanced medical applications, it is often modified and functionalized with several polymers and nanomaterials in order to obtain better printability of alginate-based biomaterial/bio ink hydrogels. This review, principally, emphasizes the recent developments and with a comprehensive overview of alginate-based biomaterial/bio ink hydrogels and their biomaterials (3D scaffolds, tissue-like structures with hierarchical vasculatures, mimics of biological, physiological and pathological functionalities) for biomedical applications. It also addresses the significance of alginates, oxidized alginate and their functionalizations (interface) with various materials in order to improve the biomaterial/bio ink properties for 3D extrusion bioprinting applications. Finally, it provides current advances, vital roles and new perspectives of alginate-based materials and their future developments for 3D bioprinting purposes.

Recent advancements in 3D bioprinting technology of carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogels: Utilization in tissue engineering.

3D printing technology has grown exponentially since its introduction due to its ability to print complex structures quickly and simply. The ink used in 3D printers is one of the most discussed areas and a variety of hydrogel-based inks were developed. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is derived from cellulose, which is a natural, biocompatible, biodegradable, and wildly abounded biopolymer. CMC is a very qualified candidate in the preparation of hydrogels because it has good solubility in water with multiple carboxyl groups. Various physical and chemical cross-linking methods and mechanisms have been used by researchers to prepare CMC-based hydrogels. Bioprinting is a powerful technology for tissue engineering applications that have been able to design and simulate different tissue and organs with digital control. Among many advantages, which were reported for bioprinting, its high throughput, as well as precise control of scaffolding and cells, is very valuable. Considering all these tips and capabilities, in this study, the methods of preparation and improvement of CMC-based hydrogels, applied 3D printer, and the latest inks designed using this biopolymer in terms of combination, features, and performance in tissue engineering are reported.

3D bioprinting for orthopaedic applications: Current advances, challenges and regulatory considerations.

In the era of personalised medicine, novel therapeutic approaches raise increasing hopes to address currently unmet medical needs by developing patient-customised treatments. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is rapidly evolving and has the potential to obtain personalised tissue constructs and overcome some limitations of standard tissue engineering approaches. Bioprinting could support a wide range of biomedical applications, such as drug testing, tissue repair or organ transplantation. There is a growing interest for 3D bioprinting in the orthopaedic field, with remarkable scientific and technical advances. However, the full exploitation of 3D bioprinting in medical applications still requires efforts to anticipate the upcoming challenges in translating bioprinted products from bench to bedside. In this review we summarised current trends, advances and challenges in the application of 3D bioprinting for bone and cartilage tissue engineering. Moreover, we provided a detailed analysis of the applicable regulations through the 3D bioprinting process and an overview of available standards covering bioprinting and additive manufacturing.