3D Nanoprinting Technologies for Tissue Engineering Applications

Abstract

Tissue engineering recovers an original function of tissue by replacing the damaged part with a new tissue or organ regenerated using various engineering technologies. This technology uses a scaffold to support three-dimensional (3D) tissue formation. Conventional scaffold fabrication methods do not control the architecture, pore shape, porosity, or interconnectivity of the scaffold, so it has limited ability to stimulate cell growth and to generate new tissue. 3D printing technologies may overcome these disadvantages of traditional fabrication methods. These technologies use computers to assist in design and fabrication, so the 3D scaffolds can be fabricated as designed and standardized. Particularly, because nanofabrication technology based on two-photon absorption (2PA) and on controlled electrospinning can generate structures with submicron resolution, these methods have been evaluated in various areas of tissue engineering. Recent combinations of 3D nanoprinting technologies with methods from molecular biology and cell dynamics have suggested new possibilities for improved tissue regeneration. If the interaction between cells and scaffold system with biomolecules can be understood and controlled and if an optimal 3D environment for tissue regeneration can be realized, 3D nanoprinting will become an important tool in tissue engineering.

Tuning the Permeability of Dense Membranes by Shaping Nanoscale Potentials

“…This interaction-specific control of membrane permeation bears possible rational design applications in material science and nanofluidics to selectively transport solvents and solutes for the desired material function. High resolution 3D laser micro-and nanoprinting with a variety of materials has become possible [51] so that our results shall be useful for membrane design with sub-micron internal structure, to control the architecture, pore shape, porosity, or interconnectivity of the scaffold, enhancing the membrane design [52] or tissue engineering [53] with 3D printing technology.…”

Multiscale technologies for treatment of ischemic cardiomyopathy

“…Examples include 3D bio-printing and nanoprinting technologies that use computer-assisted layer-by-layer deposition (that is, additive manufacturing) to create 3D structures with submicrometre resolution 120 . 3D bioprinting of cardiac patches starts with acquiring a 3D computer-aided design of the target tissue/organ using medical imaging modalities such as MRI, computerized tomography scanning, or echocardiography.…”

Additive (nano)manufacturing perspectives: the use of nanofillers and tailored materials

“…These methods can fabricate 3D scaffolds with high precision, thus can be used to standardize 3D scaffolds [25]. Among various fabrication methods, two-photon laser-based nanofabrication and controlled electrospinning are widely reported in various areas of tissue engineering due to their ability to fabricate structures with high surface to volume ratio and highly interconnected porous architecture at submicrometer resolution.…”

“…The use of these methods results in precise 3D scaffolds mimicking the organization and structure of the extracellular matrix. The challenges induced in future development of 3D nanoscaffolds include the increase of the precision of scaffold fabrication systems, the identification new biomaterials, and incorporation of biomolecules to trigger specific cell behaviours such as adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation [26]. Additionally, the need to have mixed cell populations, biomimetic material properties, and chemical gradients has led to exploration of nanomaterials-based bioinks.…”