3D bioprinting advanced biomaterials for craniofacial and dental tissue engineering – A review

The rising incidence of defects in oral and maxillofacial tissues, linked to factors such as trauma, tumors, periodontal disease, and aging, poses significant challenges. Current treatments, involving autografts, allografts, and synthetic graft materials, face obstacles like secondary trauma, inflammation, and inadequate biocompatibility. Tissue engineering, integrating cell biology and material science since the 1990s, relies heavily on biomaterial scaffolds to promote cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Traditional scaffold fabrication, including 3D printing, methods lack precision, hindering effective tissue repair by controlling cell distribution and the extracellular matrix. Biomedical engineering advancements have introduced 3D bioprinting as an innovative solution, overcoming constraints of conventional scaffolds. 3D bioprinting technology enables rapid and precise reconstruction of damaged tissues with loaded cells, mimicking in vivo environments. This paper explores key 3D bioprinting technologies such as inkjet-based, extrusion-based, fused deposition modeling, laser-assisted, VAT photopolymerization, freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels, and sacrificial template printing. The selection of materials with suitable mechanical and biological properties is crucial, considering the distinct requirements of each technique. This review provides a comprehensive survey of research progress on 3D printing biomaterial applications in craniofacial and dental tissue engineering, serving as a valuable reference for future medical research.