随着当今生物和医学复杂问题的深入研究,迫切需要体外可模仿生物体(如人体)内部的三维微环境的实验工具,而传统的软刻蚀和微加工工艺已难以满足需求.因此结合生物兼容性材料的三维打印技术,是未来体外构建个体化的生物实验装置的大趋势.本文系统性地介绍了3-D打印技术的背景.因为三维生物结构构建的特殊性,生物3-D打印在材料和技术层面都面临着新的挑战.通过对近几年相关领域发展的回顾,我们提出了一种高仿真微生态环境构建和监测一体化系统的方案,为三维生物体系的研究提供了新的思路.
In approach to simulate biological and medical issues, traditional soft lithography and micro-processing technology are facing extreme difficulties in building complex biological structures where living cells are able to live and proliferate. It is highly necessary for some methods or technology that could mimic the three-dimensional(3-D) microenvironment of organisms(such as human tissues) in vitro. Currently the 3-D printing technique combined with biocompatible material is a very promising key for meeting this demand. The 3-D printing technique used in biology and organ engineering could also be called 3-D bioprinting, which solidifies biological materials, biochemicals and living cells layer-by-layer to fabricate 3-D microstructures and microenvironments. This report systematically presents a brief review of the background and developments in the related fields of 3-D printing technology,including inkjet printing, direct laser writing(DLW), and digital micromirror device projection printing(DMD-PP). Inkjet printing uses micro-heaters or piezoelectric actuators to control volumes of liquid from the print heads. Direct laser writing and digital micromirror device projection printing are based on photo-crosslinking reaction. Because of the different focus modes they may present different ranges of layer thickness and machining dimension. Corresponding with these most commonly 3-D printing approaches, there exist several kinds of 3-D printing materials, such as synthetic polymers, inorganic material and natural polymers, which have biocompatibility, printability, and structural and mechanical properties. But in the future, the 3-D printing technique need to break through in four main areas:(1) Biocompatibility and biodegradable material combining mechanical properties similar to organs;(2) omnidirectional observation of 3-D microstructures;(3) precise manipulation of cells in microenvironment;(4) manufaction of non-uniformity, complex microstructures integrating different types o