Micro/Nano surface topography and 3d bioprinting of biomaterials in tissue engineering

Understanding of active interactions between cells and biomaterials in nano/micro scales is very important in tissue engineering of malfunctioning organs and tissue defects. Diverse biomaterials such as polymers, and their composites were developed for their applications to tissue engineering and overviewed here in the aspects of both tissue engineering and nano/micro-technologies, including 3D bioprinting. Relationship of micro/nano surface topologies of biomaterials to tissue engineering have been reviewed by employing polymeric materials, which have been recognized as leading biomaterials due to its advantageous characteristics of biophysical and chemical properties. Cellular responses such as cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, differentiation, orientation as well as gene and protein expression were examined in terms of diversely designed topographical textures such as grooves, walls, pits, posts, shapes, sizes and gaps distance, or even flat patterns of biomolecular stamp marks with certain aspect ratios. We hope that this review is expected to be helpful for better designing of biomaterials for their applications in tissue engineering.