Biofabrication is a branch of biotechnology specialising in the research and development of biologically engineered processes for the automated production of biologically functional products through bioprinting or bioassembly and subsequent tissue maturation processes;[1] as well as techniques such as directed assembly, which employs localised external stimuli guide the fabrication process; enzymatic assembly, which utilises selective biocatalysts to build macromolecular structures; and self-assembly, in which the biological material guides its own assembly according to its internal information.[2] These processes may facilitate fabrication at the micro- and nanoscales.[2] Biofabricated products are constructed and structurally organised with a range of biological materials including bioactive molecules, biomaterials, living cells, cell aggregates such as micro-tissues and micro-organs on chips, and hybrid cell-material constructs.[1]
Biofabrication is defined as “the automated generation of biologically functional products with structural organisation from living cells, bioactive molecules, biomaterials, cell aggregates such as microtissues, or hybrid cell material constructs, through bioprinting or bioassembly and subsequent tissue maturation processes.” By the ISBF(International Society for Biofabrication).
- ^ a b Moroni et al. (2018).
- ^ a b Yi et al. (2005).