Biofabrication: Micro- and Nano-Fabrication, Printing, Patterning, and Assemblies

Biofabrication is a novel, inherently cross-disciplinary scientific field that focuses on biomanufacturing processes (technologies, materials, devices, models). This is the first book that presents the range of biofabrication technologies (cell printing, patterning, assembling, 3D scaffold fabrication, cell/tissue-on-chips) as a coherent micro-/nano-fabrication toolkit. The book is designed as a practical guide to these key emerging technologies, with real-world examples to help readers gain a working knowledge of how to apply biofbrication techniques in areas such as regenerative medicine, pharmaceuticals and tissue engineering. Biofabrication focuses on biomanufacturing processes, that ultimately aim at the development of products relevant to the living system. These products may involve living (cells and/or tissues) and nonliving (bio-supportive proteins, scaffolds) components or their combination. They maybe drugs, therapeutic solutions, design principles or quantitative models. Whereas in the more narrow field of tissue engineering, for example, the primary objective is to build specific tissue substitutes (skin, cartilage, cardiac, etc., with whatever method), in biofabrication the focus is on the development of technologies with which this objective could be reached in the most efficient and optimal way. Biofabrication techniques facilitate the advance of tissue engineering from 2D cell culture to the 3D methods required for future developments in regenerative medicine, including potentially the growth of entire human organs. Discover the multi-disciplinary toolkit provided by biofabrication and apply it to develop new products, techniques and therapies. . Covers a range of important emerging technologies in a coherent manner: cell printing, patterning, assembling, 3D scaffold fabrication, cell/tissue-on-chips... . Readers develop the ability to apply biofabrication technologies through practical examples