Bioprinting Organs-Science or Fiction?-A Review From Students to Students.

Abstract

Bioprinting technology has attracted significant attention in the field of tissue engineering, enabling the precise placement of cells, biomaterials, and biomolecules to construct 3D tissue and organ structures. This review explores the feasibility of bioprinting functional organs by assessing current advancements in the field. A poll conducted among people from diverse backgrounds reveals common optimism regarding the future of organ bioprinting and its role in medicine and other fields. The article is conceptualized from a student-to-student perspective to provide a brief overview of key aspects of bioprinting, including bioinks, crosslinking techniques, bioprinting methods, and the maturation process required to develop functional tissues. Furthermore, it highlights recent progress in printing specific tissues as models for studying healthy and diseased tissues as well as implantable grafts. While there are still significant challenges that require the integration of technologies from engineering, biomaterials science, cell biology, physics, and medicine, ongoing research continues to address these complexities. The possibilities of bioprinting tissues and organs go beyond minimizing dependence on animal testing and advancing drug discovery; indeed, this approach also opens the door to accessible personalized medicine and presents a viable solution to the worldwide organ donor shortage.