01771nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260003100042653001900073653001200092653002200104653002300126653002100149100002000170700001500190700001700205700002300222700002300245245010600268856007500374300001200449520104600461020002201507       2027                            d  c2027-01-01bAcademic Press10a3D bioprinting10abioinks10anonanimal methods10aTissue engineering10axeno-free models1 aAhmed S. M. Ali1 aDongwei Wu1 aJens Kurreck1 aCatharine E. Krebs1 aGail A. Van Norman00aChapter 8 - 3D bioprinting as a promising alternative to animal models: Technologies and applications  uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780443265143000187  a121-1423 aThree-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as an advanced technology at the intersection of biology, engineering, and materials science, offering unprecedented opportunities for improving healthcare, drug development, and regenerative medicine. This chapter explores core technologies—inkjet, extrusion, light-based systems, and volumetric printing—detailing their mechanisms, bioink requirements, and applications in cancer modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine. Natural, synthetic, and decellularized extracellular matrix-based bioinks are analyzed for their biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and ethical considerations, emphasizing the shift toward xeno-free models. Case studies show how bioprinted tissues better mimic human physiology than traditional models, including vascularized constructs and patient-specific disease platforms. Challenges such as scalability, vascular integration, and regulatory hurdles are addressed, alongside emerging innovations like artificial intelligence-driven optimization.  a978-0-443-26514-3