Microgel-based bioink for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineering

Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting is being increasingly adopted as a versatile biofabrication method for making biomimetic constructs in tissue engineering. However, the lack of ideal bioinks continues to limit its broader application. Conventional hydrogel-based bioinks typically possess a densely cro...

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Main Authors: Keerthi Subramanian Iyer, Lei Bao, Jiali Zhai, Aparna Jayachandran, Rodney Luwor, Jiao Jiao Li, Haiyan Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-06-01
Series:Bioactive Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X25000519
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author Keerthi Subramanian Iyer
Lei Bao
Jiali Zhai
Aparna Jayachandran
Rodney Luwor
Jiao Jiao Li
Haiyan Li
author_facet Keerthi Subramanian Iyer
Lei Bao
Jiali Zhai
Aparna Jayachandran
Rodney Luwor
Jiao Jiao Li
Haiyan Li
author_sort Keerthi Subramanian Iyer
collection DOAJ
description Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting is being increasingly adopted as a versatile biofabrication method for making biomimetic constructs in tissue engineering. However, the lack of ideal bioinks continues to limit its broader application. Conventional hydrogel-based bioinks typically possess a densely crosslinked nanoporous structure that hinders their ability to fully support cell behavior. Microgel-based bioinks have recently emerged as a promising alternative due to their enhanced printability and functionality. This review will begin with the evolution of the “bioink'' concept, followed by a discussion on bioink categories and the requirements of ideal bioinks. It will then introduce hydrogel-based bioinks and their limitations, followed by a definition of microgels and microgel-based bioinks and a discussion of their key properties, highlighting their differences compared to conventional hydrogel-based bioinks. Topics on microgel-based bioinks are then presented in order of the printing process: pre-printing (fabrication of microgels and formulation of microgel-based bioinks), during printing and post-printing (microgel assembly kinetics). Uniquely, this review will examine the various applications of microgel-based bioinks in tissue engineering, summarizing their advantages and limitations. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of using microgel-based bioinks are discussed. This review comprehensively examines microgel-based bioinks for 3D bioprinting, highlighting their potential to overcome current challenges and setting the stage for their future applications in creating complex, functional tissue engineering scaffolds.
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spelling doaj-art-56d0ebb660bb413caff674f9a6a2fbf02025-08-20T02:12:10ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Bioactive Materials2452-199X2025-06-014827329310.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.02.003Microgel-based bioink for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineeringKeerthi Subramanian Iyer0Lei Bao1Jiali Zhai2Aparna Jayachandran3Rodney Luwor4Jiao Jiao Li5Haiyan Li6School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaFiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, 106 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat, VIC 3350, Australia; Federation University Australia, University Drive Mt Helen, Ballarat, VIC 3350, AustraliaFiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, 106 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat, VIC 3350, Australia; Federation University Australia, University Drive Mt Helen, Ballarat, VIC 3350, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia; Huagene Institute, Kecheng Science and Technology Park, Pukou District, Nanjing 211806, Jiangsu, ChinaSchool of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia; Corresponding author. School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and IT, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.School of Engineering, STEM College, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Corresponding author.Extrusion-based 3D bioprinting is being increasingly adopted as a versatile biofabrication method for making biomimetic constructs in tissue engineering. However, the lack of ideal bioinks continues to limit its broader application. Conventional hydrogel-based bioinks typically possess a densely crosslinked nanoporous structure that hinders their ability to fully support cell behavior. Microgel-based bioinks have recently emerged as a promising alternative due to their enhanced printability and functionality. This review will begin with the evolution of the “bioink'' concept, followed by a discussion on bioink categories and the requirements of ideal bioinks. It will then introduce hydrogel-based bioinks and their limitations, followed by a definition of microgels and microgel-based bioinks and a discussion of their key properties, highlighting their differences compared to conventional hydrogel-based bioinks. Topics on microgel-based bioinks are then presented in order of the printing process: pre-printing (fabrication of microgels and formulation of microgel-based bioinks), during printing and post-printing (microgel assembly kinetics). Uniquely, this review will examine the various applications of microgel-based bioinks in tissue engineering, summarizing their advantages and limitations. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of using microgel-based bioinks are discussed. This review comprehensively examines microgel-based bioinks for 3D bioprinting, highlighting their potential to overcome current challenges and setting the stage for their future applications in creating complex, functional tissue engineering scaffolds.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X250005193D bioprintingBioinkMicrogelsHydrogelsTissue engineering
spellingShingle Keerthi Subramanian Iyer
Lei Bao
Jiali Zhai
Aparna Jayachandran
Rodney Luwor
Jiao Jiao Li
Haiyan Li
Microgel-based bioink for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineering
Bioactive Materials
3D bioprinting
Bioink
Microgels
Hydrogels
Tissue engineering
title Microgel-based bioink for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineering
title_full Microgel-based bioink for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineering
title_fullStr Microgel-based bioink for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineering
title_full_unstemmed Microgel-based bioink for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineering
title_short Microgel-based bioink for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineering
title_sort microgel based bioink for extrusion based 3d bioprinting and its applications in tissue engineering
topic 3D bioprinting
Bioink
Microgels
Hydrogels
Tissue engineering
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X25000519
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