Biofunctional Inks for 3D Printing in Skin Tissue Engineering

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, consisting of computer-controlled deposition of scaffolds and cells into designed patterns, is an innovative and promising biofabrication strategy for creating artificial tissues and organs. Bioprinted skin has the potential for clinical transplantation, drug testing, cosmetic assaying as well as fundamental researches. Remarkable advancements have been done over the past decades in the improvement of engineered substitutes that mimic skin by applying the advances in polymer engineering, bioengineering, and nanomedicine. Prior to the printing stage, the pre-design of the process, selection of cell, and biofunctional inks are significant steps for the successful fabrication of 3D bioprinted skin constructs. It is crucial to seek and decide on an appropriate source of biofunctional ink capable of stimulating and supporting printed cells for tissue development. Based on this perspective, this chapter deals with the skin and wound structure, skin tissue engineering, the performance and properties of a broad range of biofunctional inks available for 3D bioprinting technologies to produce skin structures. Besides, the current challenges and advances in designing and developing biofunctional inks with desired properties are overviewed.