3D printing of bacterial cellulose for potential wound healing applications: Current trends and prospects

Abstract

Several advances in skin tissue engineering have been made to restore skin damage, facilitating wound healing. Bacterial cellulose (BC), a naturally occurring polymer, has gained attention as a potential material in wound healing due to its unique physical and biological properties. In recent years, with the advent of 3D bio-printing technology, new avenues have opened for fabricating customized wound dressings and scaffolds for tissue engineering purposes. The existing literature in this field mainly focuses on the ways of modifications of bacterial cellulose to make it printable. Still, the applicability of 3D printed scaffolds for wound healing needs to be explored more. This review article focuses on the current research on using 3D-printed BC for skin regeneration, including its production methods and physical and biological properties, making it a better choice than traditional dressings. Furthermore, it also highlights the limitations and future directions for using BC in wound healing and tissue engineering applications. This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date exploration of the applications of 3D-printed BC in wound healing, drawing insights from pre-existing studies and emphasizing patient compliance, clinical outcomes, and economic viability.

Keywords: 3D printing; Bacterial cellulose; Tissue regeneration; Wound healing.