ABSTRACT
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technologies enable the automated fabrication of tissue constructs through the spatially controlled deposition of cells, biomaterials and/or bioactive molecules. Technological developments of bioprinting and the design of bioinspired biomaterials allow the biofabrication of a set of biologically relevant 3D tissue constructs to aid tissue repair and serve as biomimetic in vitro models for therapeutic screening. Bioprinted in vitro 3D models have been successfully established and employed to investigate patient-specific responses to drugs and therapies, while pre-clinical studies have shown the ability of bioprinted 3D constructs in promoting tissue repair. However, further studies are required to assess and validate the predictive value of tissue models and the functional properties of repaired tissues. In this chapter, we provide an overview of bioprinting strategies used to create bioengineered tissue constructs, focusing on their application as implantable grafts for tissue repair and in vitro models for tissue modelling and therapeutic screening.
