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Table 4 Potential future benefits and challenges of combining regenerative medicine with additive manufacturing
| Feature | Benefits | Challenges | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioprinting | Control over macrostructure and microstructure of tissue produced |
Replicate anatomical form Reduce surgical technique learning curve |
Biomechanical properties of bioinks Effect of printing on cells Printing resolution |
| Patient-specific macrostructure from image acquisition (CT/MRI) | Reduce variability in surgical outcomes | Macrostructure may alter during bioreactor maturation | |
| Manufacture ex vivo |
Avoid donor site morbidity Reduce operating time |
Potential for contamination Regulatory constraints | |
| Regenerative medicine | Tissue-specific stem cells to improve quality and functionality of engineered tissue |
True ‘like for like’ replacement Restoring native anisotropy allows improved matching of mechanical properties | Genetic stability and differentiation capacity of cells after prolonged expansion in culture |
| Tissue maturation utilizing growth factors | Reduce degradation and constriction | Optimal growth factor combinations and temporal effects |
