Therapeutic Applications of 3D Bioprinting in Surgery for Female Reproductive Tract Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Three-dimensional printing has been progressively integrated into various industries, particularly the medical sector, where its significance in tissue engineering for transplantation is growing exponentially. The purpose of this systematic review is to ascertain whether the bioprinting of scaffolds holds the potential to provide treatment for pathologies within the female reproductive system. The inclusion criteria applied were the bioimprinting of the ovary, uterus, endometrium, or vagina, intended for surgical implantation in the patient. Articles employing printing methods that do not incorporate cells embedded in the material, those that generate tissue other than that of the female reproductive system, and those that print structures with in vitro applications were excluded from the review. The search for relevant articles was conducted until 3 April 2025. After analyzing 667 articles extracted from PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, 13 articles were included in this review. The analysis of the results encompassed aspects related to the bioprinting technology employed, the hydrogels and cells utilized, as well as the bioprinted structure and the corresponding target tissue. Few studies investigated the creation of a multicellular scaffold and in none of the cases was it implanted in a large animal model, only in murine and rabbit models. These articles reaffirm the feasibility of employing 3D bioprinting to fabricate tissues and functional organs in the present and future. This advancement will revolutionize the future demand for organs for transplantation.