Advanced Toolboxes for Cryobioprinting Human Tissue Analogs

Cryobioprinting stands up as an emerging technology to fabricate instantly storable living constructs. This review showcases recent advances in cryo(bio)printing technologies and their applications, while providing a comprehensive overview of the technical toolboxes for designing cryoprotective bioinks and optimizing freezing/thawing processes. Addressing key bioengineering challenges will  further establish the use of cryobioprinting for fabricating biomimetic tissue constructs that are available off-the-shelf.

Abstract

The increasing demand for biofabricating human tissue analogs for therapeutic applications has encouraged the pursuit of innovative techniques that shift from conventional bioprint-to-use approaches toward instantaneous bioprint-cryopreserve strategies. Such enabling concepts and next-generation technologies open new possibilities for fabricating shelf-ready living constructs for applications in regenerative medicine, preclinical disease modeling, and beyond. The generation of living constructs either for short- or long-term cryostorage requires, however, a careful design of cryoprotective bioinks to maximize biofunctionality and limit cell damage during processing. Gathering on this, herein the most recent updates in cryo(bio)printing technologies are showcased and discussed, along with demonstrative applications of these approaches. The technical toolboxes for designing cryoprotective inks and optimizing freezing/thawing processes are also critically addressed, considering their underlying bioengineering challenges. Realizing the full potential of cryobioprinting is envisioned to unlock the fabrication of increasingly biomimetic tissue constructs and personalized medicine solutions that are readily available, precisely when needed.