Bioresorbable Polymers: Advanced Materials and 4D Printing for Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a valuable tool in the production of complexes structures with specific shapes for tissue engineering. Differently from native tissues, the printed structures are static and do not transform their shape in response to different environment changes. Stimuli-responsive biocompatible materials have emerged in the biomedical field due to the ability of responding to other stimuli (physical, chemical, and/or biological), resulting in microstructures modifications. Four-dimensional (4D) printing arises as a new technology that implements dynamic improvements in printed structures using smart materials (stimuli-responsive materials) and/or cells. These dynamic scaffolds enable engineered tissues to undergo morphological changes in a pre-planned way. Stimuli-responsive polymeric hydrogels are the most promising material for 4D bio-fabrication because they produce a biocompatible and bioresorbable 3D shape environment similar to the extracellular matrix and allow deposition of cells on the scaffold surface as well as in the inside. Subsequently, this review presents different bioresorbable advanced polymers and discusses its use in 4D printing for tissue engineering applications.

Regenerative Medicine Technologies to Treat Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Defects

“…A successful, alloplastic bone substitute biomaterial fabricated by AM is a treatment concept just on the horizon of realistic clinical practice and there are many exciting implications for the future. AM has given rise to a new manufacturing concept termed four-dimensional (4D) printing, in which time is the fourth dimension of the printed construct (Saska et al, 2021). 4D printing aims to create scaffolds fabricated with advanced or "smart" materials that react to external stimuli such as pH, humidity, light, and temperature, allowing dynamic responses to in vivo conditions (Valvez et al, 2021).…”

3D Bioprinted Implants for Cartilage Repair in Intervertebral Discs and Knee Menisci

“…The next wave of bioink development should also most certainly focus on biomaterials that exhibit 4D bioprinting properties, consisting of materials that can be 3D printed, yet also respond to environmental stimuli (e.g., temperature, pH, etc.) over a desired duration of time (Saska et al, 2021). For example, Betsch et al (2018) developed a magnetically responsive iron nanoparticle-based bioink capable of producing constructs exhibiting alternating layers of aligned and random collagen fibers able to more accurately recapitulate the complex architecture of native articular cartilage, leading to enhanced collagen II production.…”

Recent Advancements in 3D Printing and Bioprinting Methods for Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

“…Current breakthroughs in 3D bioprinting continue to broaden the spectrum of bioprinting methods and applications introducing nowadays 4D bioprinting which is expected to become the evolution of bioprinting and the next generation technology, as one more dimension of transformation over time is added [96]. In this way, dynamic 3D-patterned biological constructions could alter their microarchitecture by responding to external stimuli [97].…”