14 February 2024 | Olga Kammona, Evgenia Tsanaktsidou, Costas Kiparissides
Recent developments in 3D-(bio)printed hydrogels as wound dressings are reviewed, focusing on their in vitro and in vivo performance. These hydrogels are fabricated using various bioinks (natural and synthetic polymers, biological materials) and printing methods (extrusion, digital light processing, coaxial microfluidic bioprinting), incorporating bioactive agents (growth factors, antibiotics, nanoparticles) and cells (fibroblasts, keratinocytes, stem cells). The review highlights the advantages of 3D bioprinting in enabling precise control over spatial patterning and architecture, allowing the replication of biological tissues' native organization. The aim is to comprehensively review various types of 3D-(bio)printed hydrogel constructs used in wound healing, including bioactive/antibacterial hydrogels, composite hydrogels, and cell-laden hydrogels. The constructs are presented in a tabulated form, detailing materials, crosslinking methods, printing techniques, bioactive agents, cells, animal models, and research outcomes. The review is based on a systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar, covering studies from 2013 to 2024. The review discusses the importance of wound healing, the challenges in chronic wound healing, and the role of hydrogels in wound dressings. It also covers the properties of various wound dressings, including film, foam, hydrocolloid, alginate, and hydrogel dressings, and their applications in treating different types of wounds. The review highlights the potential of 3D bioprinting in creating multifunctional hydrogels with tailored properties for wound healing, including controlled release of bioactive agents, antibacterial activity, and multi-stimuli responsiveness. The review also discusses the use of various polymers, including natural and synthetic ones, in the development of hydrogels for wound dressings, as well as the incorporation of nanoparticles and composites for enhanced performance. The review concludes with the potential of 3D bioprinting in creating advanced wound dressings that can improve wound healing outcomes.Recent developments in 3D-(bio)printed hydrogels as wound dressings are reviewed, focusing on their in vitro and in vivo performance. These hydrogels are fabricated using various bioinks (natural and synthetic polymers, biological materials) and printing methods (extrusion, digital light processing, coaxial microfluidic bioprinting), incorporating bioactive agents (growth factors, antibiotics, nanoparticles) and cells (fibroblasts, keratinocytes, stem cells). The review highlights the advantages of 3D bioprinting in enabling precise control over spatial patterning and architecture, allowing the replication of biological tissues' native organization. The aim is to comprehensively review various types of 3D-(bio)printed hydrogel constructs used in wound healing, including bioactive/antibacterial hydrogels, composite hydrogels, and cell-laden hydrogels. The constructs are presented in a tabulated form, detailing materials, crosslinking methods, printing techniques, bioactive agents, cells, animal models, and research outcomes. The review is based on a systematic search of PubMed and Google Scholar, covering studies from 2013 to 2024. The review discusses the importance of wound healing, the challenges in chronic wound healing, and the role of hydrogels in wound dressings. It also covers the properties of various wound dressings, including film, foam, hydrocolloid, alginate, and hydrogel dressings, and their applications in treating different types of wounds. The review highlights the potential of 3D bioprinting in creating multifunctional hydrogels with tailored properties for wound healing, including controlled release of bioactive agents, antibacterial activity, and multi-stimuli responsiveness. The review also discusses the use of various polymers, including natural and synthetic ones, in the development of hydrogels for wound dressings, as well as the incorporation of nanoparticles and composites for enhanced performance. The review concludes with the potential of 3D bioprinting in creating advanced wound dressings that can improve wound healing outcomes.