Unlocking new possibilities: application of MXenes in 3D bioprinting for advanced therapy

Abstract

3D bioprinting has become a leading contender among additive manufacturing techniques in biomedicine, offering the potential to create functional tissues and organs that could eliminate the need for transplants. However, for complex tissues like muscle, neural, bone, and heart, bioinks need significant improvements in properties like printability, mechanical strength, and functionalities crucial for mimicking natural tissues. Nanomaterial-based bioinks offer exciting possibilities. Among these, MXenes stand out due to their excellent biocompatibility, abundant surface groups for cell interaction, conductivity for electrical stimulation, and photothermal properties. This review delves into the potential of MXenes in 3D bioprinting. We explore the advantages of 3D printing for MXene-based biofabrication, followed by a deep dive into MXenes’ properties that make them ideal for tissue engineering and regeneratice medicine. We also provide a concise overview of various 3D bioprinting techniques and the essential criteria for bioinks employed in this process. We then discuss the diverse applications of these MXene-incorporated bioprinted constructs. Finally, we address the current challenges and future directions in this promising field. This comprehensive analysis will provide valuable insights for researchers exploring the exciting potential of nanomaterials beyond MXenes in 3D bioprinting for biomedicine advancements.