| dc.description.abstract | The liver is often affected by diseases requiring liver transplantation. However, the shortage of donor livers poses a significant challenge, exacerbating morbidity and mortality among liver disease patients. The unmet need of an alternative way for liver tissue transplantation has catalyzed interest in tissue engineering, particularly in the development of biofabricated liver tissues, as a potential solution. Biofabrication aims to construct biological structures. Bioprinting employs cells and bio-compatible materials to fabricate living liver structures. This technique encompasses various methods such as inkjet-based, extrusion-based, laser-assisted, stereolithography, and volumetric bioprinting. The process involves creating a 3D model of liver tissue, using a bioink composed of liver cells and a supportive gel-like matrix, often enriched with growth factors. Key considerations in this process include print resolution, cell density, and bioink mechanical properties. Advanced bioprinting techniques focus on integrating vascular structures and gradient materials to emulate the liver's complex architecture. Crosslinking and maturation are crucial for enhancing the printed tissue's mechanical stability and functionality. The potential applications of 3D bioprinted liver tissues are vast, ranging from drug toxicity testing and disease modeling to serving as a bridge to transplantation. The construction of functional liver tissue requires replicating the liver's intricate architecture and cellular composition, including hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, stellate cells, and endothelial cells. Recent preclinical studies have demonstrated the feasibility of transplanting extrusion-based bioprinted liver constructs into mice models, yet this achievement represents an early stage in the complex journey towards engineering entire liver tissues.
Despite the promise, whole liver tissue engineering faces challenges in replicating the liver's complex structure, achieving vascularization, functional maturation, long-term viability, and scalability. Financial constraints and ethical considerations also pose significant hurdles. Insights from the bioprinting of various other tissues, particularly in biomimetic materials and biomechanical cues, offer valuable lessons for liver tissue engineering. 3D bioprinting presents advantages over traditional transplantation and other biofabrication techniques, such as reduced immunogenicity and the ability to create complex tissue structures. However, the field requires continued interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome existing challenges. This technology not only holds the potential to revolutionize liver disease treatment but also offers a promising alternative to the current shortage of donor organs.
| |
