Table 1.

Advantages of scaffold-free techniques.

Target tissues	Examples of commonly reported parameters
Primarily mechanical function (e.g., musculoskeletal, cardiovascular)
Bone	Compressive and tensile stiffness, strength
Articular cartilage	Compressive and tensile stiffness, strength
Tendon, ligament	Tensile stiffness, strength; maximum force
Heart	Electrical conductance, contractility
Vessel	Burst pressure; recapitulation of layered structures
Non-mechanical tissues (e.g., metabolic, corneal)
Liver	Albumin; α-1 anti-trypsin; P450 cytochrome
Cornea	Transparency; refractive power