abstract
The controlled delivery of growth factors (GFs) from tissue engineered constructs represents a promising strategy to improve tissue repair and regeneration. However, despite their established key role in tissue regeneration, the use of GFs is limited by their short half-life in the in vivo environment, their dose-dependent effectiveness, and their space- and time-dependent activity. Promising results have been obtained both in vitro and in vivo in animal models. Nevertheless, the clinical application of tissue engineered constructs releasing GFs is still challenging due to the several limitations and risks associated with their use. 3D printing and bioprinting, by allowing the microprecise spatial deposition of multiple materials and the fabrication of complex geometries with high resolution, offer advanced strategies for an optimal release of GFs from tissue engineered constructs. This review summarizes the strategies that have been employed to include GFs and their delivery system into biomaterials used for 3D printing applications to optimize their controlled release and to improve both the in vitro and in vivo regeneration processes. The approaches adopted to overcome the above-mentioned limitations are presented, showing the potential of the technology of 3D printing to get one step closer to clinical applications.
keywords
BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN-2; ADVANCED DRUG-DELIVERY; REGENERATIVE MEDICINE; DUAL DELIVERY; RELEASE; VEGF; SCAFFOLDS; BMP-2; SIZE; SYSTEMS
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Poerio, A; Mano, J; Cleymand, F
our authors
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES. This work was also supported by the French PIA project "Lorraine Universite d'excellence", reference ANR-15-IDEX-04-LUE and by CNRS GDR 2088 "BIOMIM".