Three-dimensional bioprinting for bone tissue regeneration

Three-dimensional bioprinting can prove to be a promising technology for bone tissue regeneration as it facilitates good spatio-temporal distribution of cells in scaffold. The feed for bioprinting is bioink, which comprises of cells incorporated in the scaffold material. Progress has been made on the incorporation of growth factors in the bioink, which not only enables efficient regeneration but at the same time proves the feasibility of large constructs. Important parameters which determine the suitability of bioink have been discussed here. Lack of vascularization limits the success of this technology in its present form. Advances in inducing vascularization and growth factors have also been discussed. Towards the end, challenges and opinions in the area of bioprinting of bone tissue regeneration have been presented.