Harnessing light in biofabrication

Abstract

The integration of light-driven technologies into biofabrication has revolutionized the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, with numerous breakthroughs in the last few years. Light-based bioprinting approaches (lithography, multiphoton and volumetric bioprinting) have shown the potential to fabricate large scale tissue engineering constructs of high resolution, with great flexibility and control over the cellular organization. Given the unprecedented degree of freedom in fabricating convoluted structures, key challenges in regenerative medicine, such as introducing complex channels and pre-vascular networks in 3D constructs have also been addressed. Light has also been proven as a powerful tool, leading to novel photo-chemistry in designing bioinks, but also able to impart spatial-temporal control over cellular functions through photo-responsive chemistry. For instance, smart constructs able to undergo remotely controlled shape changes, stiffening, softening and degradation can be produced. The non-invasive nature of light stimulation also enables to trigger such responses post-fabrication, during the maturation phase of a construct. Such unique ability can be used to mimic the dynamic processes occurring in tissue regeneration, as well as in disease progression and degenerative processes in vivo. Bringing together these novel multidisciplinary expertise, the present Special Issue aims to discuss the most recent trends, strategies and novel light-based technologies in the field of biofabrication. These include: 1) using light-based bioprinting to develop in vitro models for drug screening, developmental biology models, disease models, and also functional tissues for implantation; 2) novel light-based biofabrication technologies; 3) development of new photo-responsive bioinks or biomaterial inks.