Emerging frontiers in 3D bioprinting: Harnessing decellularized matrix bioink for advancements in musculoskeletal tissue engineering

The musculoskeletal system plays a pivotal role in maintaining posture, safeguarding organs, facilitating flexible movement, and supporting cellular metabolic functions, thereby enabling active participation in various aspects of life. Conventional treatment modalities, such as autologous and allogeneic transplantation, face significant challenges, including donor scarcity, complications, rejection, and infection. The emergence of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology, coupled with bioink sourced from the decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM), offers a promising approach for repairing and regenerating musculoskeletal tissue. This article meticulously examines common methods of musculoskeletal tissue bioprinting, the properties and functions of dECM, techniques for preparing dECM bioinks, recent advancements, and applications of dECM bioinks in 3D printing of musculoskeletal tissues (e.g., heart, skeletal muscle, tendon, interfaces between tissues, bone, and cartilage). The review concludes by delineating current research limitations, aiming to catalyze future investigations in this domain.