Abstract:
Background: Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality
worldwide. Engineering biomimetic cardiac tissue to regenerate the heart has been an ambition in
tissue engineering. Recent advances in stem cell biology, particularly human pluripotent stem cells,
combined with sophisticated biofabrication techniques including 3D bioprinting, offer unprecedented
opportunities for cardiac regeneration. The aim of the current study was to examine how tissue
engineering and biofabrication approaches can be used for cardiac regeneration and provide new
treatments for cardiovascular diseases. It collectively addresses several key objectives like, developing
functional cardiac tissues, advancing biofabrication techniques, improving cell sources, maturation and
clinical translation.
Materials and methods: A systemic review of relevant publications from Web of Science, Scopus,
MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar databases has been done. The papers are
primarily reviews and experimental studies examining tissue engineering approaches.
Results: The results reported in tissue engineering and biofabrication for cardiac regeneration include
both significant advances and persistent challenges. Human pluripotent stem cells provide an unlimited
source of cardiomyocytes for cardiac tissue development. Patient-specific engineered heart tissues are
now possible using induced pluripotent stem cells, opening possibilities for personalized medicine. 3D
bioprinting has demonstrated ability to create complex scaffold structures with precision and
encapsulate cells effectively. Multiple biofabrication approaches have been developed including
biomaterial-based, cell-based, and hybrid methods. Some cell-based approaches have progressed to
multiple ongoing clinical trials.
Conclusions: Research has shown that tissue engineering and biofabrication represent promising but
still developing approaches for cardiac regeneration. Engineering functional cardiac tissues is feasible
and holds great promise for heart regeneration, though the field remains in its infancy. Beyond
regeneration, engineered cardiac tissues successfully serve as platforms for drug discovery, disease
modeling, and toxicity screening. Advances in stem cell biology and biofabrication techniques have
provided unlimited cell sources and sophisticated manufacturing capabilities. Critical challenges
remain, including achieving mature cardiomyocytes and developing clinically translatable
technologies. While promising, these techniques are still experimental and require further research.
