Author(s) :

Alison Wang.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

After cardiac injury, such as a heart attack, it is difficult for cardiomyocytes to regenerate. Recently, 3D bioprinting (3DBP) has become increasingly explored for its methods and bioinks to repair or restore damaged myocardium. 3DBP precisely places cells and biomaterials into cardiac architectures that aim to resemble the structural complexity of native cardiac architectures, as well as mimic the functionality, which includes levels of cell viability, electrical conductivity, vascularization, and modulus. There are several main methods of 3DBP, such as extrusion-based, which uses a nozzle, or stereolithography, which uses light. These methods vary in the regulation of other factors, including resolution, bioink viscosity, and multi-material compatibility. Furthermore, the materials chosen for bioinks directly determine cell interactions with one another and with the surrounding extracellular matrix, and are typically selected in accordance with the geometry of the targeted cardiac structure. Natural bioinks offer high biocompatibility; synthetic bioinks have improved printability and stiffness; and hybrid bioinks can provide the advantages of both, but come at the cost of more complex formulations. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of these methods and materials, and compare these in terms of their individual advantages when applied to the cardiac structure most compatible with their features. Overall, this information will be critical to aid researchers in developing novel cardiac tissue engineering treatments.