3D Bioprinting of Liver Tissue

Abstract

Animal models and 2D cell cultures are not accurately simulate human pathophysiology, leading to limitations in drug testing and providing the baseline for the discovery of 3D Bioprinting.The liver is one of the major and complex organs in the human body and liver diseases are among one of the major cause for worldwide morbidity. Patients frequently develop liver failure and other major liver-associated damage and due to a lack of organ donors and postoperative immunological rejection. Unlike 2D cell models, animal models, and organoids, 3D bioprinting may be successfully used to print biological tissues and organs such as blood vessels, bone, kidney, heart, and liver tissues, among others. Bioprinting is based on the idea that a precise arrangement of cells can communicate by sending physiological signals to create functional tissues. It allows scaffolds to mingle with target cells, which are then co-manufactured into desired shapes via computer control. Compared to conventional scaffold-based approaches, marked by limited functionality and complexity, 3D bioprinting can achieve accurate cell settlement, a high resolution, and more efficient usage of biomaterials, better mimicking the complex microstructures of native tissues. This technique will make contributions to disease modelling, drug discovery, and even regenerative medicine. Along with its advantages, it has some limitations, including the requirement of diverse fabrication technologies, the observation of drug dynamic responses under perfusion culture, and the challenge of reproducing the complex hepatic microenvironment . Despite this, 3D bioprinting is still a promising and innovative biofabrication strategy for the creation of artificial multicellular tissues/organs. This chapter emphasizes 3D Bioprinting of the liver. © 2025 P.V. Mohanan.