3D bioprinting models of neural tissues: The current state of the field and future directions

Abstract

3D bioprinting can potentially revolutionize the field of neural tissue engineering by increasing its throughput and reproducibility. However, many obstacles must be overcome to realize this immense potential. This review first discusses how 3D hydrogels can serve as powerful tools for engineering neural tissue, especially when combined with different types of cells. These tools enable us to gain a better understanding of neural tissue development and its associated disease states. Next, we define 3D bioprinting and detail the necessary tools for using this technique to produce neural tissue, along with reviewing relevant recent work in the area. We also compare with other approaches to generating 3D neural tissues while identifying key areas for future developments in the field of bioprinting.

Keywords: Drug delivery; Drug screening; High throughput; Hydrogels; Stem cells; Tissue engineering.