Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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4D Printing of Smart Biomaterials: Emerging Applications in Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

4D 프린팅 기반 스마트 생체재료의 심혈관 조직공학 응용 연구 동향

  • Sung Yun Hann (Department of Precision Mechanical Engineering, Kyungpook National University)
  • 한성연 (경북대학교 정밀기계공학과)
  • Received : 2025.09.04
  • Accepted : 2025.09.23
  • Published : 2025.10.10
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Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of deaths worldwide, which highlights the urgent need for regenerative therapies. Although 3D printing has advanced tissue engineering applications, it is limited to fabricating static structures that lack dynamic adaptability, long-term patency, and adequate vascularization. For example, small-diameter vascular grafts fabricated by 3D printing often experience occlusion within months, and thick cardiac patches (> 200 ㎛) encounter oxygen diffusion barriers that compromise cell survival. These limitations indicate the unmet need for dynamic, patient-specific constructs in cardiovascular applications. By introducing the temporal dimension, 4D printing enables shape transformation and stimuli-responsiveness, offering unique advantages. This review summarizes recent progress in the use of 4D-printed smart biomaterials across three major categories. First, the fabrication of self-expanding small-diameter vascular grafts with functional bioinks to enhance endothelialization. Second, the development of dynamic cardiac patches that synchronize with myocardial contraction while promoting cell adhesion, proliferation, and vascularization. Third, the establishment of disease models, including ischemia-reperfusion injury and heart-on-a-chip systems, which provide physiologically relevant platforms for drug screening. Future directions emphasize diversifying smart biomaterials, ensuring long-term safety, refining cell-material interactions, and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and microfluidics. Overall, these advances demonstrate the potential of 4D printing in cardiovascular research.

심혈관 질환은 전 세계 가장 주요한 사망 원인으로, 효과적인 재생의학적 치료법이 필요하다. 기존의 3D 프린팅은 조직공학에 중요한 진전을 가져왔으나, 동적 적응성 부족, 혈관의 낮은 장기 개통성, 심장 패치에서의 산소 확산 한계 등의 제약이 존재한다. 이로 인해, 3D 프린팅으로 제작된 소구경 혈관 이식편은 수개월 내 폐색이 빈번히 발생하며, 두께가 200 ㎛를 초과하는 심장 패치는 세포 괴사를 피하기 어렵다. 이러한 한계는 심혈관계 치료에 있어 환자 맞춤형, 동적 구조체에 대한 필요성을 나타낸다. 반면에, 4D 프린팅은 시간에 따른 형태 변화와 동적 자극 반응성을 구현함으로써 새로운 대안을 제시한다. 본 논문에서는 4D 프린팅 기반 스마트 생체재료를 활용한 최근 연구 동향을 크게 세 가지로 고찰하였다. 첫째, 기능성 바이오잉크가 포함된 자가 확장형 소구경 혈관 이식편. 둘째, 심근 수축과 동기화되며 세포 부착, 증식, 혈관화를 촉진하는 심장 패치. 셋째, 허혈-재관류 손상 및 심장 칩 모델 등의 질환 모델 구축이다. 아울러 미래 연구 방향으로 스마트 소재 다양화, 장기적 안정성 확보, 세포-재료 상호작용 제어, AI 및 마이크로유체 기술 융합을 제시하였다.

Keywords

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