Technological watch

The progress of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting techniques has driven several advances in tissue engineering (TE), which allow the obtention of biological constructs analogous to native tissues. These methods lead to the development of structures that can integrate with the extracellular matrix of the host tissue, promoting better assimilation of the implant in the injured spot. However, primary and pre-clinical researches in the regenerative medicine area still have limitations. The high cost of reagents, animal models, and the long period for completion are some challenges to be overcome. Consequently, multiscale biological simulations have stimulated researchers’ interest; they allow simulation conditions close to natural systems. Then, using computational tools, biological systems can be modeled at different scales of organization and size, creating multicellular models and allowing their application to complex tissues. Although software for multiscale biological simulations demands a high computational power, the advantages associated with in silico analysis are of great interest. In this way, the simulation contributes to the experimental results in laboratories because certain situations start to be foreseen during the modeling stages, later reducing the time and expense of materials. This review provides an overview of 3D bioprinting techniques, addressing their importance in TE development. Moreover, the main aspects of bioengineering are highlighted, focusing on multiscale modeling and the leading software used for biological computational modeling, which could be a powerful tool when integrated with 3D bioprinting and TE.