Bioprinting of skin constructs for wound healing

• Main Authors: Peng He, Junning Zhao, Jiumeng Zhang, Bo Li, Zhiyuan Gou, Maling Gou, Xiaolu Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2018-01-01
• Series: Burns & Trauma
• Subjects: Bioprinting; Skin constructs; Wound healing; Bioink
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41038-017-0104-x

Abstract Extensive burns and full-thickness skin wounds are difficult to repair. Autologous split-thickness skin graft (ASSG) is still used as the gold standard in the clinic. However, the shortage of donor skin tissues is a serious problem. A potential solution to this problem is to fabricate skin constructs using biomaterial scaffolds with or without cells. Bioprinting is being applied to address the need for skin tissues suitable for transplantation, and can lead to the development of skin equivalents for wound healing therapy. Here, we summarize strategies of bioprinting and review current advances of bioprinting of skin constructs. There will be challenges on the way of 3D bioprinting for skin regeneration, but we still believe bioprinting will be potential skills for wounds healing in the foreseeable future.