3D Printing of Hydrogel Composite Systems: Recent Advances in Technology for Tissue Engineering

Overview

Journal Int J Bioprint

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2020 Oct 26

PMID 33102909

Citations 58

Authors

Tae-Sik Jang

Hyun-Do Jung

Houwen Matthew Pan

Win Tun Han

Shengyang Chen

Juha Song

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of hydrogels is now an attractive area of research due to its capability to fabricate intricate, complex and highly customizable scaffold structures that can support cell adhesion and promote cell infiltration for tissue engineering. However, pure hydrogels alone lack the necessary mechanical stability and are too easily degraded to be used as printing ink. To overcome this problem, significant progress has been made in the 3D printing of hydrogel composites with improved mechanical performance and biofunctionality. Herein, we provide a brief overview of existing hydrogel composite 3D printing techniques including laser based-3D printing, nozzle based-3D printing, and inkjet printer based-3D printing systems. Based on the type of additives, we will discuss four main hydrogel composite systems in this review: polymer- or hydrogel-hydrogel composites, particle-reinforced hydrogel composites, fiber-reinforced hydrogel composites, and anisotropic filler-reinforced hydrogel composites. Additionally, several emerging potential applications of hydrogel composites in the field of tissue engineering and their accompanying challenges are discussed in parallel.

Citing Articles

Toward Customizable Smart Gels: A Comprehensive Review of Innovative Printing Techniques and Applications.

Hassan R, Abbas N, Ko J Gels. 2025; 11(1).

PMID: 39852003 PMC: 11765241. DOI: 10.3390/gels11010032.

3D Bioprinting for Engineered Tissue Constructs and Patient-Specific Models: Current Progress and Prospects in Clinical Applications.

Lee S, Jeong W, Atala A Adv Mater. 2024; 36(49):e2408032.

PMID: 39420757 PMC: 11875024. DOI: 10.1002/adma.202408032.

Improved Composite Hydrogel for Bioengineered Tracheal Graft Demonstrates Effective Early Angiogenesis.

Martins R, Weber J, Drake L, Latif M, Poulikidis K, Razi S J Clin Med. 2024; 13(17).

PMID: 39274364 PMC: 11396371. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13175148.

Urea intercalated encapsulated microalgae composite hydrogels for slow-release fertilizers.

Sarhan N, Arafa E, Elgiddawy N, Elsayed K, Mohamed F Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):15032.

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Advances in Hydrogels of Drug Delivery Systems for the Local Treatment of Brain Tumors.

Yang J, Wang Z, Ma C, Tang H, Hao H, Li M Gels. 2024; 10(6).

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