Advancements in Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering: The Role of Melt Electrowriting in 3D-Printed Scaffold Fabrication
Kunal Ranat, Hong Phan, Suhaib Ellythy, Mitchell Kenter, Adil Akkouch
Abstract
Musculoskeletal tissue injuries of the bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and skeletal muscles are among the most common injuries experienced in medicine and become increasingly problematic in cases of significant tissue damage, such as nonunion bone defects and volumetric muscle loss. Current gold standard treatment options for musculoskeletal injuries, although effective, have limited capability to fully restore native tissue structure and function. To overcome this challenge, three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques have emerged as promising therapeutic options for tissue regeneration. Melt electrowriting (MEW), a recently developed advanced 3D printing technique, has gained significant traction in the field of tissue regeneration because of its ability to fabricate complex customizable scaffolds via high-precision microfiber deposition. The tailorability at microscale levels offered by MEW allows for enhanced recapitulation of the tissue microenvironment. Here, we survey the recent contributions of MEW in advancing musculoskeletal tissue engineering. More specifically, we briefly discuss the principles and technical aspects of MEW, provide an overview of current printers on the market, review in-depth the latest biomedical applications in musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, and, lastly, examine the limitations of MEW and offer future perspectives.