Three-dimensional (3D) printing of acellular, non biological material, is already widely used in surgery. In the biomedical field, this technology is in fact increasingly used to create custom-made implants, precise cutting guides, anatomic or models, and can greatly help surgeons in i) identifying specific anatomic variations in complex cases, ii) assisting in the planning of the surgery, or iii) performing precise cuts for bone removal.
In recent years, the possibility to print biological materials (Bioprinting), including cells, has gained increasing interest in surgery. Bioprinting has the potential to fabricate living tissues and organs, by delivering biologic elements (not only cells, but also growth factors, drugs, cytokines) within a biomaterial scaffold in a pre-determined way [1]. Bioprinting is typically performed using bench-based sophisticated 3D printers, often in a sterile environment, and allow for the creation of multi-layered scaffolds with cell-to-cell interactions and matrix production [2]. Furthermore, new studies have described the design and applicability of surgical bioprinters, which can deliver, at the time and point of need, a biomaterial that can be deployed during surgery to repair or regenerate human tissues. Ideally handheld directly by the surgeon, this approach can potentially solve some of the difficulties encountered with bench-based constructs [3].
3D printing and bioprinting now carry huge expectations from the surgical community, because it promises the potential regeneration of entire living organs and tissues.
In this talk I will discuss the current state of the art in bioprinting from a surgical prospective, focusing on its application in the musculoskeletal field and, more specifically, for the regeneration of articular cartilage. I will highlight the current roadblocks for the application of this technique in clinical practice, as well as the expectations and the promises for the future seen with the eyes of the final user.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Financial support was received from NHMRC-MRFF, Viertel Foundation, Australian Orthopaedic Association, Victorian Medical Acceleration Research Fund, SVHM REF Grants