Biofabrication: Bioprinting Process, Printing Materials, and the Frontier Applications in Biomedicine

Biofabrication, also known as bioprinting, has been widely used in the field of biomedicine. The three most important factors in biofabrication are 3D bioprinter, biomaterials to be printed (bioinks), and the printing object (application). This review provides a detailed introduction to the latest research progress in these aspects. In particularly, the bioinks for bioprinting require strict biocompatible requirements. Four typical materials, i.e. metal/alloys, ceramics, polymers, and their composites, were introduced in detail, and their printing process and application scenarios were summarized, respectively. There are many applications of biofabrication in clinical practice. The application of biofabrication in skeletal system, skin and soft tissue, cardiovascular system, digestive system, respiratory system, urinary system, nervous system, plastic surgery and medical aesthetics were briefly introduced. The applications of biofabrication has a wide range of clinical need. Biofabrication is an innovative technology that is expected to further promote the clinical precision treatments.