Biofabrication: reappraising the definition of an evolving field

Abstract

Biofabrication is an evolving research field that has recently received significant attention. In particular, the adoption of Biofabrication concepts within the field of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine has grown tremendously, and has been accompanied by a growing inconsistency in terminology. This article aims at clarifying the position of Biofabrication as a research field with a special focus on its relation to and application for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. Within this context, we propose a refined working definition of Biofabrication, including Bioprinting and Bioassembly as complementary strategies within Biofabrication.

Three-dimensional neuronal cell culture: in pursuit of novel treatments for neurodegenerative disease

“…[22,23] As described by Groll et al, the term biofabrication refers to the automated generation of products with biologic function by means of bioprinting or bioassembly and subsequent maturation processes. [24] More specifically, biofabrication approaches encompass living cells, cell aggregates, bioactive molecules, and biomaterials to generate biologically functional products in an automated and highly organized manner.…”

“…By combining biomaterials, cells, and/or growth factors (composites referred to as bioink) with automated fabrication processes such as additive manufacturing [the generation of 3D constructs in a layer-by-layer manner based on a CAD (computer-aided design)], it facilitates the generation of 3D bioengineered constructs with superior organization and more closely resembling native tissues. [22,23,24] This computer-controlled deposition of biologically relevant materials allows the fabrication of (multi)-cellular constructs. Besides, the layerby-layer architecture allows tailoring beyond the cellular level, namely in terms of materials, and biochemical cues, which could be optimized to meet cell-specific requirements.…”

Impression 3D en médecine régénératrice et ingénierie tissulaire

“…La définition la plus large de la biofabrication est l'utilisation d'un procédé pour engendrer un produit présentant une fonction biologique. Dans le domaine de l'ingénierie tissulaire, la biofabrication recouvre la bio-impression et le bio-assemblage [13]. Ces deux techniques découlent d'une approche « bottom-up », contrairement à l'ingénierie tissulaire classique qui est d'inspiration « top-down ».…”

“…Ces unités sont générées essentiellement à partir de techniques de micro-fluidique ou de moulage qui peuvent être couplées à l'impression 3D de maté-riaux [13]. …”

BioCAE: A New Strategy of Complex Biological Systems for Biofabrication of Tissues and Organs

“…The term biofabrication was widely discussed recently and is broadly used for tissue engineering and additive manufacturing as "the automated generation of biologically functional products with structural organization from living cells, bioactive molecules, biomaterials, cell aggregates such as micro-tissues or hybrid cell-material constructs, through Bioprinting or Bioassembly and subsequent tissue maturation processes" [1]. Undoubtedly, the current biofabrication initiatives are possible because of a set of technologies that are completely supported by information technology (IT), such as imaging, database, bioprinting technique [2], artificial intelligence (AI), software and hardware.…”