Complex Coacervation-Based Formulation Strategy for 3D Bioprinting Application

초록

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting enables the fabrication of intricate tissue constructs for regenerative medicine and drug delivery. By precisely depositing bioinks composed of living cells and biomaterials in predefined spatial arrangements, functional tissue models that mimic native microenvironments can be produced. However, maintaining high cell viability during printing remains a major challenge due to shear stress-induced cellular damage. Complex coacervation has emerged as a promising formulation strategy to address these limitations. Coacervate-based bioinks exhibit shear-thinning behavior, rapid structural recovery, and tunable yield stress, enabling high-resolution printing with improved shape fidelity. Moreover, they provide a cell-compatible microenvironment that enhances post-printing viability. This review highlights recent advances in coacervate bioink development, emphasizing key parameters such as pH, ionic strength, and polymer composition that govern phase behavior and rheology. Applications ranging from soft tissue regeneration to mechanically robust scaffold fabrication are discussed, offering insights for the design of next-generation bioinks with enhanced printability and biological functionality across biomedical engineering, food engineering, and materials science.

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