Search Results (1,099)

Bone defects from trauma, tumour resection, infection, and degenerative disease remain a major clinical burden, and autografts face limitations of supply and donor-site morbidity. Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers a route to patient-specific, architecturally defined bone scaffolds, while biopolymers from natural sources provide biodegradability, biocompatibility, and extracellular matrix-mimicking cues consistent with sustainable, green biomaterials science. This review synthesises recent progress in 3D printing of biopolymer-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. We first examine the principal feedstocks—alginate, gelatin and gelatin methacryloyl, collagen, chitosan, silk fibroin, cellulose, and microbial polyesters—and their preparation, crosslinking chemistry, and printability. We then compare extrusion, light-based, and indirect printing technologies and the process–property relationships governing resolution, mechanical competence, and cell viability. Composite and functionalisation strategies, including biopolymer–bioceramic hybrids and controlled delivery of growth factors and antimicrobial agents, are analysed as routes to osteoinduction, vascularisation, and infection control. Finally, we evaluate translational performance in preclinical models and outline central challenges of vascularisation, mechanical–degradation matching, scalability, and regulatory standardisation. Biopolymer 3D printing is positioned as a ve rsatile, sustainable platform whose clinical maturation depends on integrated material, structural, and biological design. Full article

The extracellular matrix (ECM) provides a dynamic microenvironment that regulates cell proliferation, migration, and tissue remodeling during wound healing. However, replicating the structural and functional complexity and ECM heterogeneity of native skin ECM remains challenging with conventional single-material hydrogels. Recent advances in multimaterial 3D bioprinting have enabled the spatial integration of diverse biomaterials within a single construct. Lignocellulose has attracted increasing attention as a promising biomaterial for recreating key structural features of the native ECM because of its fibrous architecture, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility. This review offers a comprehensive and integrated perspective on the use of lignocellulose-based multimaterial printing to recreate ECM-mimicking architectures, an underexplored area at the intersection of biomaterials and biofabrication. The roles of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in printability, scaffold stability, porosity, bioactivity, and wound-healing performance are discussed. Representative studies have demonstrated that lignocellulose-based multimaterial bioinks provide porous architectures that support cell adhesion, proliferation, and tissue regeneration. These benefits are accompanied by improved mechanical performance, as cellulose nanofibers exhibit elastic moduli exceeding 100 GPa, and lignin-containing hydrogels have achieved compressive moduli of up to 135 kPa. Such mechanical advantages make lignocellulosic materials particularly attractive for fabricating ECM-mimicking scaffolds that require long-term structural integrity. Finally, key design considerations and current limitations associated with lignocellulose-based multimaterial bioprinting are critically discussed. A framework for the rational design of lignocellulose-based multimaterial bioinks is presented, together with future directions toward gradient and adaptive scaffolds, smart wound dressings, and advanced wound-healing applications. Full article

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bio-based, biodegradable polyesters increasingly explored as sustainable biomaterials for regenerative medicine. This review summarizes recent advances in PHA-based bone substitute materials, highlighting their properties, fabrication methods, and biological performance. PHAs combine biocompatibility, tunable mechanical behavior, and degradation into non-toxic metabolites, while copolymerization and monomer selection modulate the stiffness, crystallinity, and resorption rate. Processing techniques such as solvent casting, electrospinning, and additive manufacturing allow the production of porous architectures that mimic bone extracellular matrix. Electrospinning is particularly suitable for nanoscale fibrous matrices, whereas 3D printing enables patient-specific scaffolds with controlled geometry and interconnected porosity. Scaffold performance can be further improved through the incorporation of osteoconductive fillers, including hydroxyapatite, β-tricalcium phosphate, bioactive glasses, graphene oxide, and carbon nanotubes, as well as through drug-delivery and pro-angiogenic functionalization. In vitro and in vivo studies consistently report favorable cytocompatibility, enhanced osteogenic differentiation, vascularization, and effective repair of bone defects in animal models. However, clinical translation remains limited by production costs, variability in polymer quality, thermal processing constraints, and regulatory challenges. Future progress will rely on more efficient biosynthesis, medical-grade purification, multifunctional scaffold design, and stronger collaboration between academia, industry, and clinicians to unlock the full potential of PHAs in regenerative bone therapies. Full article

Cervical cancer continues to require more precise and clinically adaptable local treatment strategies, particularly in the face of insufficient drug accumulation at the lesion site, systemic toxicity of conventional chemotherapy, limited development of postoperative tissue-interfacing platforms, and the anatomical constraints of standard radiotherapy devices. In this mini-review, we summarize the current landscape of polymer-based biomaterials for local therapy in cervical cancer from both materials and clinical perspectives. Specifically, we discuss three interconnected application domains: local drug delivery systems, polymeric scaffolds and tissue-interfacing platforms, and 3D-printed radiotherapy devices. Recent studies indicate that polymer-based local delivery systems, including nanofiber- and hydrogel-based formulations, can improve cervicovaginal retention, controlled release, and local therapeutic exposure. Scaffold-based systems further extend the role of biomaterials by combining sustained local delivery with defect-specific support and tissue interaction, whereas 3D-printed radiotherapy devices contribute primarily through precision enablement, individualized implantation guidance, and improved conformity in anatomically challenging cases. Despite these advances, most available studies remain preclinical or early translational, and important barriers persist in long-term safety, standardization, clinically relevant validation, and workflow integration. Future progress will depend on application-specific design, stronger translational rigor, and closer integration of biomaterials, imaging, and personalized clinical practice. Full article

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models more faithfully reproduce native tissue organization and function than conventional two-dimensional systems, yet many existing bioprinting methods depend on scaffolds, complex instrumentation, or limited control over cell positioning. This review examines magnetic bioinks as a versatile platform for contactless 3D cell manipulation and biofabrication. It first outlines the fundamentals of magnetophoresis and defines magnetic bioinks as combinations of magnetic agents, including magnetic nanoparticles or paramagnetic salts, with biological components such as cells, proteins, or fluids. The review then compares label-based strategies, in which cells are magnetized and guided by positive magnetophoresis, with label-free approaches that exploit magnetic susceptibility differences to position diamagnetic cells through negative magnetophoresis. Across these methods, magnetic bioinks have enabled single-cell sorting, spatial patterning, spheroid and co-culture assembly, multilayer tissue formation, and hydrogel-integrated printing. These capabilities support applications in disease modeling, drug screening, biosensing, regenerative medicine, and emerging biofabrication under microgravity conditions. The paper also highlights key limitations, including nanoparticle biocompatibility, paramagnetic salt toxicity, osmotic stress, and the need for better assay standardization and translational validation. Overall, magnetic bioinks represent a promising scaffold-free approach for rapidly producing physiologically relevant 3D biological constructs for research and clinical innovation. Full article

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) has emerged as the only viable fertility preservation strategy for prepubertal girls and adolescent cancer patients facing gonadotoxic treatments. While OTC has transitioned from an experimental procedure to an established clinical practice, the functional longevity of transplanted grafts remains limited by massive follicle depletion. This review synthesizes recent technological advances in OTC for female children, with a particular focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms and innovative protective strategies. We systematically evaluate pre-cryopreservation assessments, surgical harvesting techniques such as medulla-sparing biopsies, and the comparative efficacy of slow freezing versus vitrification in preserving stromal and follicular integrity. Central to this discussion are the molecular drivers of post-transplantation injury, including ischemia–reperfusion-induced oxidative stress and the iatrogenic over-activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, which leads to follicular “burnout.” Furthermore, we explore targeted pharmacological interventions, such as the dual-drug application of VEGFA and rapamycin, alongside emerging bioengineering frontiers including decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds and 3D-printed bioprosthetic ovaries. Clinical outcomes are also summarized, highlighting high rates of endocrine recovery (~95%) and promising live birth rates (~28%), predominantly through natural conception. By integrating deep molecular insights with advanced tissue engineering, this review provides a comprehensive framework for optimizing long-term fertility restoration and improving the quality of survivorship for young female cancer survivors. Full article

The synthesis of reactive sucrose derivatives is of significant interest for the development of novel biocompatible polymers. In this study, an octa-substituted sucrose derivative containing isocyanate groups was synthesized via a urethane-forming reaction carried out in an aprotic solvent at the phase interface. This approach exhibits high selectivity and provides a target product yield of up to 60%. Subsequently, using the same reaction mechanism, the isocyanate derivative was converted into an octa-functional methacrylate derivative capable of forming three-dimensional cross-linked networks. The structures of both the intermediate and final products were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectrometry. The sucrose-based prepolymer was further evaluated in the formation of cross-linked structures for potential application as bone-substituting implants. Using various photocuring techniques, including two-photon 3D printing, both plates and microstructured scaffolds were fabricated. These structures exhibited high thermal stability, elastic properties comparable to those of bone tissue, and no toxic effects on cells. Full article

Intraperitoneal (I.P.) delivery of cell-based therapeutics represents a promising strategy for treating regional peritoneal diseases; however, rapid cellular clearance severely limits therapeutic durability. A critical unmet need is the development of implantable biomaterial platforms that can both mechanically integrate within the dynamic I.P. cavity and sustain viable cell persistence in vivo. Here, we establish a Continuous Liquid Interface Production (CLIP)-based 3D bioprinting strategy to engineer transplantable, cell-laden hydrogel scaffolds optimized for I.P. implantation. Through systematic bioresin design, we identify a GelMA-PEGDA formulation that achieves a balance between high-resolution printability, tissue-matched mechanical characteristics (Young’s modulus 10–15 kPa), and controlled biodegradation (~75% mass loss over 14 days). The resulting constructs support sustained cell viability and proliferation for over 30 days in vitro. Importantly, in an animal study conducted in 6–8 weeks of female nude mice, in vivo I.P. implantation demonstrates a ~10-fold extension in cellular persistence compared to direct cell injection, prolonging the time to 50% signal decay from ~3 days to ~30 days, with detectable cell retention approaching two months in select animals. The platform further accommodates multiple clinically relevant cell types, including human mesenchymal stem cells and neural stem cells, highlighting its translational versatility. Collectively, this work defines key material and architectural parameters required for I.P. implantable cell therapeutics and establishes CLIP-based bioprinting as a scalable strategy for regional delivery of living therapeutics. Full article

Effective wound management remains a critical challenge in modern medicine, requiring a delicate balance among infection control, hemostasis, and tissue regeneration. Biopolymer-based hydrogels have emerged as leading candidates for medical use due to their biocompatibility, moisture-retention capabilities, and structural similarity to the natural ECM. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the transition from passive dressings to intelligent, multifunctional hydrogel scaffolds. We first examine the biological mechanisms of wound healing and the fundamental roles of hydrogels in maintaining an optimal microenvironment. Central to this discussion is the integration of conductive materials (including conductive polymers, carbon-based nanomaterials, and metal nanoparticles), which empower hydrogels with bio-sensing and electromechanical stimulation capabilities. Furthermore, we explore how 3D printing technologies enable the fabrication of personalized, high-precision scaffolds. The review also discusses the emerging role of integrated monitoring systems and machine learning algorithms in enhancing diagnostic accuracy. By synthesizing current research, this review identifies critical engineering hurdles and outlines the future trajectory toward automated, closed-loop wound-care systems in clinical practice. Ultimately, while these advanced electronic scaffolds offer revolutionary therapeutic paradigms, this review underscores that balancing electroconductivity with chronic cytocompatibility, refining multi-modal biosensor calibration, and navigating complex regulatory evaluation pathways remain critical prerequisites. Overcoming these fundamental translational bottlenecks is essential to realizing the next generation of automated clinical wound care. Full article

Additive manufacturing enables the fabrication of porous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) structures with controlled architectures for biomedical applications. In particular, porous PEEK scaffolds have attracted significant attention due to their potential to enhance osteoconductivity while maintaining mechanical compatibility with bone. However, the relationship between porosity, post-processing conditions, and mechanical performance remains insufficiently understood, especially at high porosity levels. In this study, the effects of porosity (49–81%) and post-processing heat treatment (4 and 6 h at 300 °C) on the mechanical performance of additively manufactured PEEK osteoconductive scaffolds were experimentally investigated. Compression and three-point bending tests were conducted to evaluate strength and elastic modulus. Results demonstrated a strong inverse relationship between porosity and mechanical properties, with significant reductions observed beyond critical thresholds of approximately 66% in compression and 59% in bending. Heat treatment improved mechanical performance at lower porosity levels, likely due to enhanced crystallinity and interlayer bonding, while its effect diminished at higher porosities due to reduced load-bearing material and ligament thinning. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing porosity and post-processing conditions to achieve a balance between mechanical integrity and osteoconductive potential in PEEK scaffolds. The results provide practical design guidelines for the development of additively manufactured PEEK structures for load-bearing orthopedic applications. Full article

Bone repair is a complex and dynamic process that demands implanted scaffolds to provide temporal-specific functions: antibacterial activity in the early stage, followed by angiogenic and osteogenic stimulation in later stages. This study introduces a biomimetic scaffold composed of a filled Gel-OSA hydrogel and a 3D-printed PLA framework, enabling sequential multi-drug release for bone regeneration. Zero-dimensional arginine-derived carbon dots were incorporated into the hydrogel to achieve rapid release after implantation, conferring potent antibacterial activity and ROS regulation. Meanwhile, chondroitin sulfate (CS)-loaded mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles were immobilized onto the 3D-printed PLA surface via a polydopamine coating, allowing sustained release of CS and Ca/P ions to enhance the scaffold’s long-term osteoinductive capability. The composite scaffold further demonstrated combined effects in promoting cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Collectively, these findings suggest that this biomimetic scaffold, designed for temporally controlled multi-drug release, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the reconstruction of bone tissue. Full article

Traumatic injuries often result in nerve tissue damage and functional deficits due to limited regeneration. Silk fibroin, a biopolymer with inherent biocompatibility and tunable properties, is a promising material for 3D-bioprinted neural tissue scaffolds. This review highlights recent advancements in silk-derived composite scaffolds, often incorporating additional materials like collagen or conductive polymers to enhance their performance. This review examines how material composition, scaffold architecture, and fabrication strategy influence biological response and functional recovery. This comprehensive review follows PRISMA guidelines and uses comprehensive searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies published through 2025. Studies were screened for eligibility based on substance type, mechanical properties, production methods, and outcomes. Findings were synthesized qualitatively. Twelve studies were included, comprising rat (50%), canine (8.3%), and in vitro (41.7%) models. Analysis reveals that silk fibroin acts as a highly adaptable mechanical backbone. It can consistently integrate with bioactive additives (collagen, dECM) or conductive polymers (Polypyrrole, MXene) to meet specific therapeutic demands. For spinal cord injuries, composites reached a compressive modulus capable of resisting physiological pressures and preventing scaffold collapse. In soft tissue applications, silk–hydrogel blends provided localized release of exosomes and small molecules during the acute injury phase, reducing neuroinflammatory markers. Additionally, adding conductive materials allowed the scaffolds to bridge electrical gaps and promote Schwann cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, 3D bioprinting enabled the creation of defined microchannels that replicate native fascicular architecture. In vivo outcomes consistently showed superior axonal regeneration, myelination, and synaptic reconnection compared to controls, correlating with significant improvements in electrophysiological and motor function. This review highlights the clinical potential of silk fibroin-based 3D-printed biomaterials for nerve regeneration, including neural repair and neural tissue engineering. More recent studies place greater emphasis on integrating mechanical, architectural, and biological considerations into scaffold design, resulting in increasingly multifunctional scaffold systems. Despite promising efficacy, the heterogeneity of fabrication methods and the predominance of rodent models highlight the need for standardized protocols and evaluations in relevant models to facilitate clinical translation. Full article

The present study investigated the effect of a 3D-printed nanocomposite scaffold on bone healing in vivo. The scaffolds used were made from the bioresorbable thermoplastic polycaprolactone polymer, blended with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes functionalized with chitosan, and manufactured with a rectilinear infill pattern and interconnected pores of 500 μm in size. The study included three groups of 10 Wistar rats, in which a 2 mm bone defect was created in the middle of the right femur. In the scaffold/peptide group, the gap was filled with the scaffold loaded with a peptide corresponding to human pleiotrophin amino acids 48-56 (PTN_48-56), and the fracture was stabilized with a 12 mm K-wire as an intramedullary nail. In the scaffold group, the scaffold did not contain the peptide, and in the control group, the bone defect was stabilized without the use of a scaffold. Radiological examination revealed that bone healing was achieved on average in 6.6 weeks in the scaffold/peptide group, 7.2 weeks in the scaffold group, and 8.1 weeks in the control group. Histopathological examination performed 2 weeks postoperatively showed that angiogenesis in the scaffold/peptide group was 1.5 times higher than in the scaffold group and 2.5 times higher than in the control group. In conclusion, our osteo-inductive 3D-printed scaffold covered with PTN_48-56 is a promising option for accelerating bone defect healing. Full article

Acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) is a bio-based, biocompatible, and biodegradable photopolymerizable resin that exhibits shape-memory behavior, making it attractive for a wide range of biomaterial applications. Despite various strategies to fabricate porous AESO scaffolds for tissue regeneration, achieving high pore interconnectivity remains challenging. Herein, we demonstrate the utility and versatility of thermoreversible terpenes as porogens in AESO to enable the formation of highly aligned and interconnected pore architectures. More specifically, a blend of 90 wt% camphene and 10 wt% camphor was employed as the terpene system, since it could be completely melted at 70 °C, uniformly mixed with liquid AESO, and subsequently crystallized at −20 °C. This process generated a bicontinuous network comprising terpene crystals and liquid AESO, thereby enabling efficient UV photopolymerization of AESO. Following terpene removal via freeze-drying, highly aligned pore networks with excellent pore interconnectivity were obtained, which are hardly achievable using conventional liquid or solid porogens. The porosity and mechanical properties of the AESO scaffolds were tuned by adjusting terpene content. Porosity increased from 61.5 to 81.5% as terpene content rose from 60 to 80 vol%. As a result, tensile strength decreased from 0.29 ± 0.045 to 0.17 ± 0.017 MPa, while elongation at break increased from 20.2 ± 4.9 to 35.5 ± 1.34%. Furthermore, this approach is compatible with vat photopolymerization (VP), a 3D printing technique. As a proof of concept, dual-scale porous AESO scaffolds, composed of unidirectional channels surrounded by highly aligned porous frameworks, were successfully fabricated. These results indicate that a variety of dual-scale porous AESO scaffolds, with greatly enhanced mechanical properties at given porosities coupled with outstanding tissue regeneration, can be produced through VP using terpene porogens, in contrast to conventional porous scaffolds comprising uniform porous frameworks. Full article

Currently, dual-functional composites that simultaneously provide structural support and energy storage capabilities have garnered significant attention. However, the challenge of balancing mechanical strength and energy storage performance remains a limiting factor for their application. Herein, a novel N-doped reduced graphene oxide/nano-sulfur@porous SiC (N-rGO/S@porous SiC) composite material was successfully prepared by in situ embedding N-rGO supported with nano-sulfur into a 3D-printed porous SiC scaffold via a hydrothermal synthesis approach. The hierarchical porous structure composed of SiC and N-rGO facilitates mass transport of the liquid electrolyte. Benefiting from the high strength of SiC, the novel material achieves a compressive strength of 93.5 MPa. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of the N-rGO/S composite and the high ionic conductivity of the liquid electrolyte, the electrode material delivers superior electrochemical energy storage performance, achieving a specific capacitance of 800.7 mF/cm² at a current density of 1 mA/cm², together with remarkable rate capability and good cycling stability. To our knowledge, this composite exhibits a high level of integrated properties. More importantly, the strategy of integrating porous, high-strength supports with high-performance electrode materials opens new avenues for the synthesis of structure-energy-storage dual-functional composites. Full article