Table 1.
Applications, advantages, and limitations of printing stem cells and biomolecules
Printing Stem Cells | Refs | Printing Biomolecules | Refs |
---|---|---|---|
Applications | |||
Single stem cell genomics | [26] | Protein and DNA arrays | [31] |
Patches for wound healing | [22] | Tissue engineering applications (e.g., guiding and maximizing stem cell growth in a wound site) | [32] |
Ex vivo generation of tissue replacement | [36] | ||
Advantages over current methodsa | |||
Programmable | [1, 5, 7] | Programmable (no custom stamps are required) | [1, 7, 31] |
Inexpensive | [1, 5, 7] | Inexpensive | [1, 7, 31] |
3-D complexity | [1, 5, 7] | Noncontact (reduces the risk of cross-contamination originating from surface) | [31] |
High-throughput | [1, 5, 7] | No requirement for any modifications to the proteins or substrates | [31] |
Limitations | |||
Cytocompatibile | [1, 3] | The resolution is lower compared with the state of-the-art protein array technologies (e.g., micro-contact printing, resolution is less than 100 nm) | [31] |
Viscosity | [3, 54] | The number of available binding sites on the receiving substrate | [31] |
Cytocompatibile | [1, 3] | ||
Viscosity | [30] |
Printing stem cells is advantageous over centrifugal or molding techniques; Printing biomolecules is advantageous over open spotting, soft lithography, photolithography.