title: 4D bioprinting: the next-generation technology for biofabrication enabled by stimuli-responsive materials.
abstract: Four-dimensional (4D) bioprinting, encompassing a wide range of disciplines including bioengineering, materials science, chemistry, and computer sciences, is emerging as the next-generation biofabrication technology. By utilizing stimuli-responsive materials and advanced three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting strategies, 4D bioprinting aims to create dynamic 3D patterned biological structures that can transform their shapes or behavior under various stimuli. In this review, we highlight the potential use of various stimuli-responsive materials for 4D printing and their extension into biofabrication. We first discuss the state of the art and limitations associated with current 3D printing modalities and their transition into the inclusion of the additional time dimension. We then suggest the potential use of different stimuli-responsive biomaterials as the bioink that may achieve 4D bioprinting where transformation of fabricated biological constructs can be realized. We finally conclude with future perspectives.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Innovation Research Center, Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Yi-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu Shrike
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akpek
authors.forename: Su Ryon
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khademhosseini
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D062028:Bioprinting; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D013696:Temperature; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011108:Polymers