Advanced 3D-Bioprinting for synthesis of various biomedical devices: from biomimetic tissues to breast phantoms

1 Advanced Polymer Materials Group, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061, Bucharest, Romania, horia.iovu@upb.ro

2 Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095, Bucharest, Romania

3 Academy of Romanian Scientists, 54 Splaiul Independentei, 050094, Bucharest, Romania

Advanced 3D-bioprinting technologies are revolutionizing biomedical engineering by enabling the fabrication of complex, patient-specific structures that closely mimic the architecture and functionality of native tissues. Our work highlights recent advances in biofabrication strategies, biomaterial design, and hydrogel-based bioinks for the development of next-generation biomedical devices and tissue-engineered constructs. Particular attention is given to extrusion-based bioprinting approaches, bioink formulation principles, and the role of natural and synthetic polymers in achieving enhanced printability, structural fidelity, mechanical stability, and cellular viability [1]. 

The study discusses the development of multifunctional bioinks based on gelatin methacrylate (GelMA), nanocellulose, pectin, alginate, chitosan, and graphene-derived nanomaterials for soft tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Recent studies demonstrated that nanocellulose-reinforced hydrogel formulations exhibit improved rheological behavior, shape fidelity, crosslinking ability, and biocompatibility, making them highly suitable for advanced 3D-bioprinting applications. Furthermore, fish-derived GelMA bioinks showed enhanced printability and cellular viability compared with conventional bovine-derived formulations, supporting the fabrication of stable biomimetic tissue constructs for personalized medicine. 

Various biomedical applications of 3D-bioprinting are presented, including skin regeneration, vascularized constructs, cartilage and bone tissue engineering, as well as complex in vitro tissue models designed to reproduce native extracellular matrix environments and cell–matrix interactions [2]. The research also addresses emerging trends in smart hydrogels, mechanically reinforced bioinks, and biofabrication strategies for clinically relevant tissue architectures. 

In the final part of the study, the focus shifts toward the development of realistic 3D-printed breast phantoms for biomedical imaging, surgical planning, and medical training. These biomimetic breast models are designed to reproduce the anatomical, mechanical, and radiological properties of human tissues, providing valuable tools for mammography calibration, ultrasound validation, and personalized diagnostic approaches. The integration of advanced hydrogel systems and additive manufacturing technologies offers new opportunities for producing customizable breast phantoms with tunable properties, contributing to improved imaging accuracy, clinician training, and patient-specific healthcare solutions.

[1] Alexandra I Cernencu, Adriana Lungu, Izabela-Cristina Stancu, Andrada Serafim, Ellinor Heggset, Kristin Syverud, Horia Iovu, Bioinspired 3D printable pectin-nanocellulose ink formulations, Carbohydrate Polymers, 220, 2019, 12-21

[2] A.Cernencu, A. Lungu,* D. M. Dragusin , I. C. Stancu , S. Dinescu, H. Iovu, 3D Bioprinting of Biosynthetic Nanocellulose-Filled GelMA Inks Highly Reliable for Soft Tissue-Oriented Constructs, Materials 2021, 14(17), 4891.