摘要
Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting is being increasingly adopted as a versatile biofabrication method for making biomimetic constructs in tissue engineering.However,the lack of ideal bioinks continues to limit its broader application.Conventional hydrogel-based bioinks typically possess a densely crosslinked nanoporous structure that hinders their ability to fully support cell behavior.Microgel-based bioinks have recently emerged as a promising alternative due to their enhanced printability and functionality.This review will begin with the evolution of the“bioink"concept,followed by a discussion on bioink categories and the requirements of ideal bioinks.It will then introduce hydrogel-based bioinks and their limitations,followed by a definition of microgels and microgel-based bioinks and a discussion of their key properties,highlighting their differences compared to conventional hydrogel-based bioinks.Topics on microgel-based bioinks are then presented in order of the printing process:pre-printing(fabrication of microgels and formulation of microgel-based bioinks),during printing and post-printing(microgel assembly kinetics).Uniquely,this review will examine the various appli-cations of microgel-based bioinks in tissue engineering,summarizing their advantages and limitations.Finally,the current challenges and future perspectives of using microgel-based bioinks are discussed.This review comprehensively examines microgel-based bioinks for 3D bioprinting,highlighting their potential to overcome current challenges and setting the stage for their future applications in creating complex,functional tissue en-gineering scaffolds.
基金
supported by the RMIT Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellowship 2020.K.S L.acknowledges RMIT HDR Scholarship
the Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Fellowship(DE190101514).
