Bioprinting Vascularized Skin Analogs: A Stepwise Approach

Bioprinting has emerged as a promising technology for fabricating vascularized skin 49 substitutes. The availability of functional skin tissue constructs is critical for the surgical 50 treatment of various wounds, including ulcers and burns. Integrating functional vascular 51 networks within engineered skin constructs is indispensable for ensuring adequate nutrient 52 perfusion and overall tissue viability. This review undertakes a comprehensive exploration of 53 the application of 3D bioprinting for fabricating vascularized skin tissue constructs. It 54 encompasses an examination of the printing modalities, ink formulations, and cell-sourcing 55 strategies currently prevalent in the field. The design and formulation of suitable inks are 56 crucial steps in the successful bioprinting of vascularized skin constructs, and various ink 57 components such as biomaterials, cells, growth factors, and bioactive molecules are 58 particularly considered, with a focus on their roles in promoting angiogenesis and blood vessel 59 formation within the printed constructs.