3D Printed Biohybrid Microsystems

AbstractThis review is devoted to the role of 3D printing in the development of a new high‐tech field, smart biohybrid microsystems. The motivation behind the development of this field is the intention to integrate the capabilities of biological systems optimized in the course of evolution with the achievements of modern methods of forming micro‐ and nanostructures. Biohybrid technologies have demonstrated enormous potential for creating new materials and devices intended for a wide range of applications, primarily in the fields of medicine and biology. In this review, attention is focused on 3D printing as the main driver of the development of technologies for the formation of biohybrid systems. Methods featuring micro‐ and nanoresolution, which make it possible to efficiently integrate artificial structures and biosystems at the cellular level, are discussed. The formation of smart biohybrid microsystems—complex multifunctional devices designed for the medical treatment and study of tissues and organs in vitro and in vivo—is analyzed. Particular attention is given to the most promising, breakthrough trends in the development of biohybrid systems—microrobots, organ‐on‐a‐chip systems, and brain–computer interfaces. The main strategies in designing such systems and the near‐future opportunities offered by them are outlined.