3D bioprinting of microorganisms: principles and applications

Josha Herzog, Lea Franke, Yingyao Lai, Pablo Gomez Rossi, Janina Sachtleben, Dirk Weuster-Botz

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

In recent years, the ability to create intricate, live tissues and organs has been made possible thanks to three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. Although tissue engineering has received a lot of attention, there is growing interest in the use of 3D bioprinting for microorganisms. Microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae, are essential to many industrial bioprocesses, such as bioremediation as well as the manufacture of chemicals, biomaterials, and pharmaceuticals. This review covers current developments in 3D bioprinting methods for microorganisms. We go over the bioink compositions designed to promote microbial viability and growth, taking into account factors like nutrient delivery, oxygen supply, and waste elimination. Additionally, we investigate the most important bioprinting techniques, including extrusion-based, inkjet, and laser-assisted approaches, as well as their suitability with various kinds of microorganisms. We also investigate the possible applications of 3D bioprinted microbes. These range from constructing synthetic microbial consortia for improved metabolic pathway combinations to designing spatially patterned microbial communities for enhanced bioremediation and bioprocessing. We also look at the potential for 3D bioprinting to advance microbial research, including the creation of defined microenvironments to observe microbial behavior. In conclusion, the 3D bioprinting of microorganisms marks a paradigm leap in microbial bioprocess engineering and has the potential to transform many application areas. The ability to design the spatial arrangement of various microorganisms in functional structures offers unprecedented possibilities and ultimately will drive innovation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)443-461
Number of pages19
JournalBioprocess and Biosystems Engineering
Volume47
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2024

Keywords

  • 3D bioprinting
  • Bioink
  • Bioprocess
  • Crosslinking
  • Hydrogel scaffolds
  • Microorganisms

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