Xiaobo Zhang,1,* Xidan Gao,1,* Xuefang Zhang,1 Xin Yao,1 Xin Kang2 

1Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’An, Shaanxi, P.R. China; 2Department of Sports Medicine, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiao Tong University, Xi’An, Shaanxi, P.R. China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Xin Kang, Email honghuikangxin@163.com

Abstract: Hydrogels are multifunctional platforms. Through reasonable structure and function design, they use material engineering to adjust their physical and chemical properties, such as pore size, microstructure, degradability, stimulus-response characteristics, etc. and have a variety of biomedical applications. Hydrogel three-dimensional (3D) printing has emerged as a promising technique for the precise deposition of cell-laden biomaterials, enabling the fabrication of intricate 3D structures such as artificial vertebrae and intervertebral discs (IVDs). Despite being in the early stages, 3D printing techniques have shown great potential in the field of regenerative medicine for the fabrication of various transplantable tissues within the human body. Currently, the utilization of engineered hydrogels as carriers or scaffolds for treating intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) presents numerous challenges. However, it remains an indispensable multifunctional manufacturing technology that is imperative in addressing the escalating issue of IVDD. Moreover, it holds the potential to serve as a micron-scale platform for a diverse range of applications. This review primarily concentrates on emerging treatment strategies for IVDD, providing an in-depth analysis of their merits and drawbacks, as well as the challenges that need to be addressed. Furthermore, it extensively explores the biological properties of hydrogels and various nanoscale biomaterial inks, compares different prevalent manufacturing processes utilized in 3D printing, and thoroughly examines the potential clinical applications and prospects of integrating 3D printing technology with hydrogels.

Keywords: intervertebral disc degeneration, 3D bioprinting, hydrogel, novel therapy, challenges