Application of 3D bioprinting in wound healing: A review

Abstract

Skin is the largest organ of the human body. It plays a pivotal role in the protection and maintenance of homeostasis of the body. Wound healing is a repairing mechanism of the body, which immediately comes into play following any trauma or injury to re-establish the structural and functional normalcy of skin. From a clinical aspect, standard treatment procedures against wounds can only provide physical protection against the outer environment, while engineered scaffolds act as physical support for the cells. However, both strategies fail to provide essential support to sustain functional healing, i.e., neovascularization. The emergence of 3D bioprinting has revolutionized the field of biomedical engineering, enabling the synthesis of 3D skin constructs using a wide range of biomaterials (synthetic and natural polymers) and cells, to overcome the existing problem. This review article deals with the basic principle of 3D bioprinting and overview of different types of 3D printing, with critical discussion on basic components of bio-ink used in skin bioprinting and the phases of skin bioprinting. The article also analyses the utilization of different bioprinting techniques to synthesize skin constructs for wound healing applications. © (2021) Society for Biomaterials & Artificial Organs #20053221