•  
  •  
 
Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Abstract

3D bioprinting is an innovative technology that enables the creation of bioengineered structures through computer-guided processes. This technique has been in use for more than 35 years and has made a huge contribution in the biomedical field. Utilizing biomaterials with regenerative properties has significantly impacted tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and pharmaceutical research. Various bioprinting techniques, including inkjet, extrusion, laser-assisted, and stereolithography, offer unique advantages for precise tissue construction. Bioinks used for printing, can be derived from natural and synthetic sources. It ensures biocompatibility, mechanical integrity, and controlled degradation. Advanced bioinks—such as nanoengineered, biomolecular, multimaterial, self-assembling, and stimuli-responsive variants—enhance applications in tissue regeneration. Bioprinting is widely applied in organ fabrication, cancer detection, and even food technology. However, challenges like cell positioning and nozzle clogging limit its efficiency. Solutions such as pollen-based bioinks and the Freefrom Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) technique help address these issues, improving precision and structural stability. In this review we have summarized briefly the types of 3D printing, its application in medicine and industry, and also the advantages and their limitations. With ongoing advancements, bioprinting continues to expand its potential in personalized medicine, organ transplantation, and sustainable food production.

DOI

10.56808/2673-060X.5626

First Page

CLMJ 2025 - 5626 Review article Bioprinting: Revolutionizing Biology with 3D Innovation Gopalarethinam Janania, Naven kumar RKb, Agnishwar Girigoswamia**, Koyeli Girigoswamib* a Medical Bionanotechnology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Chettinad Health City, Kelambakkam, Chennai-603103 b Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Thandalam, Chennai, 602101, India 3D bioprinting is an innovative technology that enables the creation of bioengineered structures through computer-guided processes. This technique has been in use for more than 35 years and has made a huge contribution in the biomedical field. Utilizing biomaterials with regenerative properties has significantly impacted tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and pharmaceutical research. Various bioprinting techniques, including inkjet, extrusion, laser-assisted, and stereolithography, offer unique advantages for precise tissue construction. Bioinks used for printing, can be derived from natural and synthetic sources. It ensures biocompatibility, mechanical integrity, and controlled degradation. Advanced bioinks—such as nanoengineered, biomolecular, multimaterial, self-assembling, and stimuli-responsive variants—enhance applications in tissue regeneration. Bioprinting is widely applied in organ fabrication, cancer detection, and even food technology. However, challenges like cell positioning and nozzle clogging limit its efficiency. Solutions such as pollen-based bioinks and the Freefrom Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) technique help address these issues, improving precision and structural stability. In this review we have summarized briefly the types of 3D printing, its application in medicine and industry, and also the advantages and their limitations. With ongoing advancements, bioprinting continues to expand its potential in personalized medicine, organ transplantation, and sustainable food production. Keywords: 3D Bioprinting; bioinks, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biomedical, personalized medicine.

Last Page

22;14(9):2284. 79. Li W, Liu Z, Tang F, Jiang H, Zhou Z, Hao X, et al. Application of 3D bioprinting in liver diseases. Micromachines. 2023;14(8):1648. 80. Attaran M. The rise of 3-D printing: The advantages of additive manufacturing over traditional manufacturing. Business horizons. 2017;60(5):677-88. 81. Tack P, Victor J, Gemmel P, Annemans L. 3D-printing techniques in a medical setting: a systematic literature review. Biomedical engineering online. 2016;15(1):115. 82. Djurović S, Lazarević D, Mišić M, Stojčetović B, Blagojević M, Biočanin S, editors. 3D Printing Technologies: Process, Materials, Advantages, Disadvantages and Application. New Trends in Engineering Research 2024; 2024 2024//; Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. 83. Vaz VM, Kumar L. 3D printing as a promising tool in personalized medicine. Aaps Pharmscitech. 2021;22(1):49. 84. Djurović S, Lazarević D, Mišić M, Stojčetović B, Blagojević M, Biočanin S, editors. 3D Printing Technologies: Process, Materials, Advantages, Disadvantages and Application. International Conference of Experimental and Numerical Investigations and New Technologies; 2024: Springer. 85. Choonara YE, du Toit LC, Kumar P, Kondiah PP, Pillay V. 3D-printing and the effect on medical costs: a new era? Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research. 2016;16(1):23-32. 86. Veeravalli RS, Vejandla B, Savani S, Nelluri A, Peddi NC. Three-dimensional bioprinting in medicine: a comprehensive overview of current progress and challenges faced. Cureus. 2023;15(7):e41624. 87. Vijayavenkataraman S. 3D bioprinting: challenges in commercialization and clinical translation. Journal of 3D printing in medicine. 2023;7(2):3DP8. 88. Gillispie GJ, Han A, Uzun-Per M, Fisher J, Mikos AG, Niazi MKK, et al. The influence of printing parameters and cell density on bioink printing outcomes. Tissue Engineering Part A. 2020;26(23-24):1349-58. 89. Kwon S, Hwang D. Understanding and Resolving 3D Printing Challenges: A Systematic Literature Review. Processes. 2025;13(6):1772. 90. Minetola P, Galati M. A challenge for enhancing the dimensional accuracy of a low-cost 3D printer by means of self-replicated parts. Additive Manufacturing. 2018;22:256-64. 91. Zandrini T, Florczak S, Levato R, Ovsianikov A. Breaking the resolution limits of 3D bioprinting: future opportunities and present challenges. Trends in Biotechnology. 2023;41(5):604-14. 92. Tan Y, Chu W, Wang P, Li W, Qi J, Xu J, et al. High-throughput multi-resolution three dimensional laser printing. Physica Scripta. 2018;94(1):015501. 93. Schwab A, Levato R, D’este M, Piluso S, Eglin D, Malda J. Printability and shape fidelity of bioinks in 3D bioprinting. Chemical reviews. 2020;120(19):11028-55. 94. Munoz-Perez E, Perez-Valle A, Igartua M, Santos-Vizcaino E, Hernandez RM. High resolution and fidelity 3D printing of Laponite and alginate ink hydrogels for tunable biomedical applications. Biomaterials Advances. 2023;149:213414. 95. Aimar A, Palermo A, Innocenti B. The role of 3D printing in medical applications: a state of the art. Journal of healthcare engineering. 2019;2019(1):5340616. 96. Ashish, Ahmad N, Gopinath P, Vinogradov A. Chapter 1 - 3D Printing in Medicine: Current Challenges and Potential Applications. In: Ahmad N, Gopinath P, Dutta R, editors. 3D Printing Technology in Nanomedicine: Elsevier; 2019. p. 1-22. 97. Paulsen S, Miller J. Tissue vascularization through 3D printing: will technology bring us flow? Developmental Dynamics. 2015;244(5):629-40. 98. Bandyopadhyay A, Bose S, Narayan R. Translation of 3D printed materials for medical applications. MRS bulletin. 2022;47(1):39-48.

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.