Chitosans for Tissue Repair and Organ Three-Dimensional (3D) Bioprinting

Abstract

Chitosan is a unique natural resourced polysaccharide derived from chitin with special biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antimicrobial activity. During the past three decades, chitosan has gradually become an excellent candidate for various biomedical applications with prominent characteristics. Chitosan molecules can be chemically modified, adapting to all kinds of cells in the body, and endowed with specific biochemical and physiological functions. In this review, the intrinsic/extrinsic properties of chitosan molecules in skin, bone, cartilage, liver tissue repair, and organ three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting have been outlined. Several successful models for large scale-up vascularized and innervated organ 3D bioprinting have been demonstrated. Challenges and perspectives in future complex organ 3D bioprinting areas have been analyzed.

An Interpenetrating Alginate/Gelatin Network for Three-Dimensional (3D) Cell Cultures and Organ Bioprinting

“…Several pioneering crosslinking protocols, such as using glutaraldehyde to crosslink gelatin molecules and Ca 2+ to crosslink alginate molecules, have been exploited to create interpenetrating networks with stabilized cell-laden 3D constructs. With these protocols we have solved all the bottle neck problems, encountered by tissue engineers [24,25], material (including biomaterial) researchers [26][27][28], stem cell induction experts [29][30][31], pharmaceutists [32][33][34], and tissue/organ cryopreservation scientists [35,36], for more than seven or more decades. In the present study, we use another crosslinking protocol, i.e., both transglutaminase (TG) and Ca 2+ , to prepare alginate/gelatin hydrogels with improved interpenetrating networks for in vitro 3D cell cultures and organ bioprinting.…”

Development of Asialoglycoprotein Receptor-Targeted Nanoparticles for Selective Delivery of Gemcitabine to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

“…Chitosan (poly-β-1,4-glucosamine) is a natural linear polysaccharide made by deacetylation of chitin (poly-β-(1→4)-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine) and has molecular mass in the range of 10 to over 1000 kDa [21]. It is nontoxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer, extensively used in pharmaceutical carriers [22].…”

Advanced Polymers for Three-Dimensional (3D) Organ Bioprinting

“…Compared with other states of polymers, hydrogels can provide a benign and stable environment for living cells to grow, migrate, aggregate, proliferate, and differentiate inside. The integration of hydrogels with 3D bioprinting technologies has offered numerous attractive features for complex organ manufacturing [48][49][50].During the 3D organ bioprinting process, different polymers have different roles and functions. Most natural polymers, which are employed as the main components of bioinks, have the following roles:(1) provide cells and bioactive agents with support such as accommodation; (2) build vascular, neural, and lymphatic networks as semipermeatable substrates for nutrient, gas (e.g., oxygen), metabolite, and biosignal exchange; (3) guide homogeneous and heterogeneous histogenesis and organogenesis in a predefined way; and (4) promote tissue and organ maturation under specific biochemical and biophysical conditions.…”