Construction of 3D in vitro models by bioprinting human pluripotent stem cells: Challenges and opportunities

Brain Res. 2019 Nov 15:1723:146393. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146393. Epub 2019 Aug 16.

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of biological material, or 3D bioprinting, is a rapidly expanding field with interesting applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Bioprinters use cells and biocompatible materials as an ink (bioink) to build 3D structures representative of organs and tissues, in a controlled manner and with micrometric resolution. Human embryonic (hESCs) and induced (hiPSCs) pluripotent stem cells are ideally able to provide all cell types found in the human body. A limited, but growing, number of recent reports suggest that cells derived by differentiation of hESCs and hiPSCs can be used as building blocks in bioprinted human 3D models, reproducing the cellular variety and cytoarchitecture of real tissues. In this review we will illustrate these examples, which include hepatic, cardiac, vascular, corneal and cartilage tissues, and discuss challenges and opportunities of bioprinting more demanding cell types, such as neurons, obtained from human pluripotent stem cells.

Keywords: 3D; Bioink; Bioprinting; Embryonic stem cells; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells; Organoid.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bioprinting / methods*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds