3D bioprinting brings new aspirations to the tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research community. However, despite its huge potential, its growth towards translation is severely impeded due to lack of suitable materials, technological barrier, and appropriate validation models. Recently, the use of decellularized extracellular matrices (dECM) from animal sources is gaining attention as printable bioink as it can provide a microenvironment close to the native tissue. Hence, it is worth exploring the use of xenogeneic dECM and its translation potential for human application. However, extensive studies on immunogenicity, safety-related issues, and animal welfare-related ethics are yet to be streamlined. In addition, the regulatory concerns need to be addressed with utmost priority in order to expedite the use of xenogeneic dECM bioink for 3D bioprinted implantable tissues for human welfare.
Part of the book: Xenotransplantation