3D Bioprinting for Skin Regeneration: Emerging Biomaterials, Techniques, and Clinical Potential

Skin tissue engineering seeks to fabricate neo-tissue and enhance the integration of host tissue for usage in regenerative medicine. In most cases, biocompatible polymers and growth factors induce tissues in the surroundings of the defect site and also act as scaffolds for the attachment and growth of the transplanted cells. Recently, 3D bioprinting has shown good scope in tissue fabrication using a layer-by-layer technique with structural control through scaffold-based or scaffold-free approaches from micro-scale to macro-scale. This review focuses on the advances in biomaterials of bioprinting techniques and various categories of 3D printing technologies to address important issues in skin tissue engineering by highlighting improvements in scaffold structural fidelity, cellular viability, and integration of vascular and appendage characteristics. Key findings show that bioinks significantly improve cell adhesion and proliferation, while 3D printing techniques enhance structural and functional mimicry of native skin. By combining diverse findings, this review aims to close the identified knowledge gaps and provide a thorough understanding that guides future research and clinical applications.