Objective:
Bioprinting is a tissue engineering technique that is rapidly evolving to include complex clinical applications. However, there is limited evidence describing how far bioprinting has progressed past the pre-clinical stage. Thus, we conducted a scoping review to assess the landscape of clinical trials involving bioprinting by charting trends in general characteristics, bioprinting application, and trial design.
Methods:
The term "bioprint" and its variants were searched in five trial databases (ICTRP, ScanMedicine, CENTRAL, NIHCC, HCCTD) and two registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, PHRR) on 22 February 2024. This was followed by duplicate removal and dual independent review to finalize the inclusion list. We included trials published in or translated to English mentioning "bioprint" in their design, while we excluded those that did not adhere to our definition of bioprinting. Finally, data were charted and synthesized narratively.
Results:
Of 36 total search records, 11 trials met inclusion criteria. Registration dates ranged from 2016 to 2023, with China conducting the most trials globally. Only one trial had published results while the majority were still in progress. Seven trials aimed to bioprint in vitro models with autologous cells to study patient-specific conditions such as cancer. The remaining four trials aimed to implant bioprinted tissues, also with autologous cells, including blood vessels, trachea, external ear, and wound dressings.
Conclusion:
Bioprinting is still in the early stages of clinical research, with a focus on producing patient-specific tissues for cancer precision medicine and regenerative purposes. More standardized reporting of bioprinting-related information is needed to improve communication between researchers. As the body of evidence grows, our review may be used as a framework to monitor the clinical translation of bioprinting over the years.