Session: 06-11-03: Biotechnology and General Applications

Paper Number: 145980

145980 - Advancements and Challenges in Soft Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Review of Additive Manufacturing Technologies 

Additive Manufacturing (AM), particularly Stereolithography (SLA) and Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), represents a pivotal advancement in the domain of biomedical engineering, specifically within the context of soft tissue engineering. Since its inception during the 1980s, AM has emerged as a transformative force, facilitating the creation of customized, intricate three-dimensional structures. This capability has significantly propelled the fields of personalized medicine and precision drug delivery forward. The present manuscript is a review paper that meticulously examines the extant literature pertaining to AM, with a focus on delineating its contributions, methodologies, achievements, and the challenges it continues to face, in addition to exploring potential future trajectories within the biomedical landscape.

AM technologies are distinguished into polymer-based and powder-based processes, each offering distinct advantages for tissue engineering applications. Polymer-based techniques such as SLA and FDM are lauded for their precision in manufacturing detailed structures conducive to cellular growth and tissue formation. Conversely, powder-based methods, inclusive of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), provide versatile solutions for fabricating scaffolds with variable porosities and mechanical properties, crucial for regenerating soft tissues that meet specific functional criteria.

The utilization of AM in bioprinting soft tissues has unveiled novel prospects for regenerative medicine, heralding innovative approaches for the repair or replacement of damaged tissues and organs. Through a layer-by-layer fabrication methodology, AM technologies have shown immense promise in generating scaffolds that support cellular attachment and proliferation while also fostering vascularization—vital for the survival and functional integration of engineered tissues with host organisms. Despite these advancements, the review elucidates significant hurdles in accurately replicating the comprehensive complexity of soft tissues, particularly in achieving the requisite mechanical robustness, elasticity, and biological compatibility akin to natural tissues.

Moreover, this paper probes into current research endeavours aimed at integrating vascular and immune components within bioprinted constructs, a critical step towards realizing fully functional tissue replacements. The successful incorporation of vascular networks within engineered tissues ensures the requisite supply of nutrients and oxygen, essential for tissue vitality and functionality. Simultaneously, the inclusion of immune components is intended to mitigate rejection risks and enhance integration with the host's immune system. However, the realization of these goals remains fraught with complexities, necessitating innovative material solutions and approaches.

This review further accentuates the pivotal role of AM in the evolution of personalized medicine, especially through the customization of drug delivery systems and the fabrication of patient-specific tissue models for disease research and pharmacological testing. The capability to tailor drug delivery devices and scaffolds to individual patient specifications holds the potential to markedly enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. Nonetheless, transitioning from laboratory prototypes to clinically approved products encompasses a gamut of challenges, including rigorous testing, regulatory approvals, and ethical considerations, which pose impediments to the broader adoption of AM in clinical practices.

In summation, AM is positioned at the vanguard of a significant paradigm shift in biomedical engineering, poised to redefine the contours of tissue engineering and personalized medicine. Its adeptness at fabricating complex, bespoke structures offers a promising avenue towards addressing some of the most pressing challenges in regenerative medicine and drug delivery. The path forward, however, is contingent upon surmounting significant scientific, technical, and regulatory challenges. Continued advancements in material science, bioprinting techniques, and an enhanced understanding of tissue biology are imperative for unlocking the full potential of AM in the development of functional, biocompatible tissue constructs and personalized therapeutic interventions. This review underscores the imperative for a multidisciplinary collaborative effort spanning engineering, biology, and medicine to exploit the transformative capacity of AM fully, paving the way for the forthcoming generation of biomedical innovations.

Presenting Author: Fatemeh Azari University of Pittsburgh

Presenting Author Biography: Fatemeh Azari is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in the fields of biomedical CT imaging, animal surgery, soft tissue biomechanics, mechanobiology, and mechanobiology. Her research integrates mechanical engineering with biomedical applications, focusing on understanding how soft tissues respond to mechanical forces. This work has significant implications for developing new medical diagnostics and treatments, particularly in the realm of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Azari's expertise in conducting detailed animal surgeries complements her proficiency in CT imaging, enabling her to study tissue behavior under various conditions. Her work aims to bridge the gap between mechanical engineering principles and biological systems, contributing to advances in diagnosing and treating urological disorders.

Authors:

Fatemeh Azari University of Pittsburgh
Robabeh Jazaei Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania