On the progress of 3D-printed hydrogels for tissue engineering

Rigoberto C Advincula; John Ryan C Dizon; Eugene B Caldona; Robert Andrew Viers; Francis Dave C Siacor; Reymark D Maalihan; Alejandro H Espera Jr

doi:10.1557/s43579-021-00069-1

On the progress of 3D-printed hydrogels for tissue engineering

MRS Commun. 2021;11(5):539-553. doi: 10.1557/s43579-021-00069-1. Epub 2021 Aug 3.

Authors

Rigoberto C Advincula^{1

2

3}, John Ryan C Dizon⁴, Eugene B Caldona¹, Robert Andrew Viers¹, Francis Dave C Siacor⁵, Reymark D Maalihan⁶, Alejandro H Espera Jr^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Joint Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA.
² Center for Nanophase Materials and Sciences (CNMS), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 USA.
³ Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106 USA.
⁴ Design, Research, Extension in Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials and Advanced Manufacturing (DR3AM) Center/Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture, Bataan Peninsula State University, City of Balanga, 2100 Bataan, Philippines.
⁵ BioProcess Engineering and Research Center and Department of Chemical Engineering, University of San Carlos, 6014 Cebu City, Philippines.
⁶ Chemical and Food Engineering Department and Material Testing and Calibration Center, Batangas State University, 4200 Batangas City, Philippines.
⁷ Electronics Engineering Department, School of Engineering and Architecture, Ateneo de Davao University, 8016 Davao City, Philippines.
⁸ Department of Engineering Education, College of Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA.

Abstract

Abstract: Additive manufacturing or more commonly known as 3D printing, is currently driving innovations and applications in diverse fields such as prototyping, manufacturing, aerospace, education, and medicine. Recent technological and materials research breakthroughs have enabled 3D bioprinting, where biomaterials and cells are used to create scaffolds and functional living tissues (e.g. skin, cartilage, etc.). This prospective focuses on the classification and applications of hydrogels, and design considerations in their production (i.e. physical and biological parameters). The materials for 3D printing of hydrogels, such as biopolymers, synthetic polymers, and nanocomposites, are mainly discussed. More importantly, future perspectives on 3D printing hydrogels including new materials, 4D printing, emerging printing technologies, etc. and their importance in biomedical and bioengineering applications are discussed.

Keywords: 3D printing; Polymer; Tissue.