Biofabrication

Last updated February 05, 2025

Biofabrication is a branch of biotechnology specialising in the research and development of biologically engineered processes for the automated production of biologically functional products through bioprinting or bioassembly and subsequent tissue maturation processes;^[1] as well as techniques such as directed assembly, which employs localised external stimuli guide the fabrication process; enzymatic assembly, which utilises selective biocatalysts to build macromolecular structures; and self-assembly, in which the biological material guides its own assembly according to its internal information.^[2] These processes may facilitate fabrication at the micro- and nanoscales.^[2] Biofabricated products are constructed and structurally organised with a range of biological materials including bioactive molecules, biomaterials, living cells, cell aggregates such as micro-tissues and micro-organs on chips, and hybrid cell-material constructs.^[1]

Biofabrication is defined as “the automated generation of biologically functional products with structural organisation from living cells, bioactive molecules, biomaterials, cell aggregates such as microtissues, or hybrid cell material constructs, through bioprinting or bioassembly and subsequent tissue maturation processes.” By the ISBF(International Society for Biofabrication).

Techniques in Biofabrication

Bioprinting: This method uses computer-aided design to layer living cells and biomaterials, constructing complex three-dimensional structures that mimic natural tissues. Bioprinting allows for precise placement of multiple cell types, enabling the creation of heterogeneous tissue structures. ^[3]

Biofabrication allows researchers to combine fabrication techniques with 2d/3d printing and biomanufacturing and bioassembly of living 3d functional biological products using smart and cytocompatible biomaterials^[3]

Applications in Regenerative Medicine

Scientists are developing techniques to bio fabricate tissues and organs to combat the global shortage of organ donors.By creating scaffolds that support cell growth and differentiation simple tissues like skin and cartilage have been developed and are already used in clinical settings. These engineered tissues can be used for transplantation or as models for drug testing. Despite this progress in tissue engineering there are still big drawbacks in producing complex and functional 3d tissues and organs especial the organs that are urgently needed in transplants applications. -pmc:a perspective

Organ Printing: Advancements in bio printing have led to the fabrication of organ-like structures, such as liver and kidney tissues. This promotes faster healing and fewer post-transplant complications as they are custom made from the patients cells so this eliminate graft rejection. While fully functional printed organs for transplantation remain a future goal, current progress indicates significant potential for addressing organ shortages. ^[4]

Challenges and Future Directions

Traditional term relies on in vivo regeneration which often results in fibrous tissues with poor nutrient supply and poor blood flow.^[3]
Using Bio-AM it enables controlled extracorporeal rgan fabrication with precise tissue assembly and maturation before implantation.^[3]
However functional engineered organs face challenges as researchers do not have any control with the natural process after implantation. Therefore bio fabrication is aimed at extracorporeal organ engineering where tissue formation can be under human controlled.^[3]
Significant technological challenges exists, although 3D printing organs have advanced there is still need for it to have better biocompatibility and biofunctionality. Even though there as some successful trails and small implications today the big application of 3D printing organs does not fulfil those 2 criteria’s. thus researchers are facing challenges in finding materials they fufill both.^[4]
The ethical and legal issues also exist as patient information confidentiality is put at risk because 3d printing requires server experts and information can be shared without roper care there may be leaks. It also complicated the patients right to widtraw as when organ is already implanted it is almost impossible to undo it or have it replaced.^[4]

Related Research Articles

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Tissue engineering is a biomedical engineering discipline that uses a combination of cells, engineering, materials methods, and suitable biochemical and physicochemical factors to restore, maintain, improve, or replace different types of biological tissues. Tissue engineering often involves the use of cells placed on tissue scaffolds in the formation of new viable tissue for a medical purpose, but is not limited to applications involving cells and tissue scaffolds. While it was once categorized as a sub-field of biomaterials, having grown in scope and importance, it can be considered as a field of its own.

Bioglass 45S5 or calcium sodium phosphosilicate, is a bioactive glass specifically composed of 45 wt% SiO₂, 24.5 wt% CaO, 24.5 wt% Na₂O, and 6.0 wt% P₂O₅. Typical applications of Bioglass 45S5 include: bone grafting biomaterials, repair of periodontal defects, cranial and maxillofacial repair, wound care, blood loss control, stimulation of vascular regeneration, and nerve repair.

Organ printing utilizes techniques similar to conventional 3D printing where a computer model is fed into a printer that lays down successive layers of plastics or wax until a 3D object is produced. In the case of organ printing, the material being used by the printer is a biocompatible plastic. The biocompatible plastic forms a scaffold that acts as the skeleton for the organ that is being printed. As the plastic is being laid down, it is also seeded with human cells from the patient's organ that is being printed for. After printing, the organ is transferred to an incubation chamber to give the cells time to grow. After a sufficient amount of time, the organ is implanted into the patient.

Articles related specifically to biomedical engineering include:

A biomaterial is a substance that has been engineered to interact with biological systems for a medical purpose – either a therapeutic or a diagnostic one. The corresponding field of study, called biomaterials science or biomaterials engineering, is about fifty years old. It has experienced steady growth over its history, with many companies investing large amounts of money into the development of new products. Biomaterials science encompasses elements of medicine, biology, chemistry, tissue engineering and materials science.

Nano-scaffolding or nanoscaffolding is a medical process used to regrow tissue and bone, including limbs and organs. The nano-scaffold is a three-dimensional structure composed of polymer fibers very small that are scaled from a Nanometer scale. Developed by the American military, the medical technology uses a microscopic apparatus made of fine polymer fibers called a scaffold. Damaged cells grip to the scaffold and begin to rebuild missing bone and tissue through tiny holes in the scaffold. As tissue grows, the scaffold is absorbed into the body and disappears completely.

Bioceramics and bioglasses are ceramic materials that are biocompatible. Bioceramics are an important subset of biomaterials. Bioceramics range in biocompatibility from the ceramic oxides, which are inert in the body, to the other extreme of resorbable materials, which are eventually replaced by the body after they have assisted repair. Bioceramics are used in many types of medical procedures. Bioceramics are typically used as rigid materials in surgical implants, though some bioceramics are flexible. The ceramic materials used are not the same as porcelain type ceramic materials. Rather, bioceramics are closely related to either the body's own materials or are extremely durable metal oxides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artificial bone</span> Bone-like material

Artificial bone refers to bone-like material created in a laboratory that can be used in bone grafts, to replace human bone that was lost due to severe fractures, disease, etc.

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Decellularization is the process used in biomedical engineering to isolate the extracellular matrix (ECM) of a tissue from its inhabiting cells, leaving an ECM scaffold of the original tissue, which can be used in artificial organ and tissue regeneration. Organ and tissue transplantation treat a variety of medical problems, ranging from end organ failure to cosmetic surgery. One of the greatest limitations to organ transplantation derives from organ rejection caused by antibodies of the transplant recipient reacting to donor antigens on cell surfaces within the donor organ. Because of unfavorable immune responses, transplant patients suffer a lifetime taking immunosuppressing medication. Stephen F. Badylak pioneered the process of decellularization at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. This process creates a natural biomaterial to act as a scaffold for cell growth, differentiation and tissue development. By recellularizing an ECM scaffold with a patient’s own cells, the adverse immune response is eliminated. Nowadays, commercially available ECM scaffolds are available for a wide variety of tissue engineering. Using peracetic acid to decellularize ECM scaffolds have been found to be false and only disinfects the tissue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3D bioprinting</span> Use of 3D printing to fabricate biomedical parts

Three dimensional (3D) bioprinting is the use of 3D printing–like techniques to combine cells, growth factors, bio-inks, and biomaterials to fabricate functional structures that were traditionally used for tissue engineering applications but in recent times have seen increased interest in other applications such as biosensing, and environmental remediation. Generally, 3D bioprinting uses a layer-by-layer method to deposit materials known as bio-inks to create tissue-like structures that are later used in various medical and tissue engineering fields. 3D bioprinting covers a broad range of bioprinting techniques and biomaterials. Currently, bioprinting can be used to print tissue and organ models to help research drugs and potential treatments. Nonetheless, translation of bioprinted living cellular constructs into clinical application is met with several issues due to the complexity and cell number necessary to create functional organs. However, innovations span from bioprinting of extracellular matrix to mixing cells with hydrogels deposited layer by layer to produce the desired tissue. In addition, 3D bioprinting has begun to incorporate the printing of scaffolds which can be used to regenerate joints and ligaments. Apart from these, 3D bioprinting has recently been used in environmental remediation applications, including the fabrication of functional biofilms that host functional microorganisms that can facilitate pollutant removal.

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Bio-inks are materials used to produce engineered/artificial live tissue using 3D printing. These inks are mostly composed of the cells that are being used, but are often used in tandem with additional materials that envelope the cells. The combination of cells and usually biopolymer gels are defined as a bio-ink. They must meet certain characteristics, including such as rheological, mechanical, biofunctional and biocompatibility properties, among others. Using bio-inks provides a high reproducibility and precise control over the fabricated constructs in an automated manner. These inks are considered as one of the most advanced tools for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM).

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References

1 2 Moroni et al. (2018).
1 2 Yi et al. (2005).
1 2 3 4 5 Naghieh, Saman; Lindberg, Gabriella; Tamaddon, Maryam; Liu, Chaozong (2021-09-10). "Biofabrication Strategies for Musculoskeletal Disorders: Evolution towards Clinical Applications". Bioengineering. 8 (9): 123. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering8090123 . ISSN 2306-5354. PMC 8466376 . PMID 34562945.
1 2 3 Shin, Alicia (2022-12-27), The History, Current Status, Benefits, and Challenges of 3D Printed Organs, arXiv: 2207.13212 , retrieved 2025-02-04

Works cited

Moroni, Lorenzo; Boland, Thomas; Burdick, Jason A.; De Maria, Carmelo; Derby, Brian; Forgacs, Gabor; Groll, Jürgen; Li, Qing; Malda, Jos; Mironov, Vladimir A.; Mota, Carlos; Nakamura, Makoto; Shu, Wenmiao; Takeuchi, Shoji; Woodfield, Tim B.F. (2018). "Biofabrication: A Guide to Technology and Terminology". Trends in Biotechnology. 36 (4): 384–402. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.10.015. hdl: 11568/885392 . PMID 29137814. S2CID 3704554.
Yi, Hyunmin; Wu, Li-Qun; Bentley, William E.; Ghodssi, Reza; Rubloff, Gary W.; Culver, James N.; Payne, Gregory F. (2005). "Biofabrication with Chitosan". Biomacromolecules. 6 (6): 2881–2894. doi:10.1021/bm050410l. ISSN 1525-7797. PMID 16283704.

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[FOOTNOTEMoroniBolandBurdickDe_Maria2018-1] 1 2 Moroni et al. (2018).

[FOOTNOTEYiWuBentleyGhodssi2005-2] 1 2 Yi et al. (2005).

[:0-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Naghieh, Saman; Lindberg, Gabriella; Tamaddon, Maryam; Liu, Chaozong (2021-09-10). "Biofabrication Strategies for Musculoskeletal Disorders: Evolution towards Clinical Applications". Bioengineering. 8 (9): 123. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering8090123 . ISSN 2306-5354. PMC 8466376 . PMID 34562945.

[:1-4] 1 2 3 Shin, Alicia (2022-12-27), The History, Current Status, Benefits, and Challenges of 3D Printed Organs, arXiv: 2207.13212 , retrieved 2025-02-04

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