Functional materials of 3D bioprinting for wound dressings and skin tissue engineering applications: A review

Abstract

The skin plays an important role in vitamin D synthesis, humoral balance, temperature regulation, and waste excretion. Due to the complexity of the skin, fluids loss, bacterial infection, and other life-threatening secondary complications caused by skin defects often lead to the damage of skin functions. 3D bioprinting technology, as a customized and precise biomanufacturing platform, can manufacture dressings and tissue engineering scaffolds that accurately simulate tissue structure, which is more conducive to wound healing. In recent years, with the development of emerging technologies, an increasing number of 3D-bioprinted wound dressings and skin tissue engineering scaffolds with multiple functions, such as antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, hemostatic, and antitumor properties, have significantly improved wound healing and skin treatment. In this article, we review the process of wound healing and summarize the classification of 3D bioprinting technology. Following this, we shift our focus on the functional materials for wound dressing and skin tissue engineering, and also highlight the research progress and development direction of 3D-bioprinted multifunctional wound healing materials.

Keywords: 3D bioprinting; Dressing; Functional materials; Skin tissue engineering; Wound healing.