Organ biofabrication: the convergence of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for a new therapeutic era

Abstract

Introduction: End-stage organ failure represents a global health crisis in which traditional transplantation is often insufficient due to a severe donor shortage and the risk of immunological rejection. In light of this, the biofabrication of bioartificial organs emerges as a transformative innovation. This approach enables the de novo construction of organs utilizing patient-derived pluripotent cells, thereby eliminating the reliance on allogeneic donors. The convergence of regenerative biology, biomaterials science, and bioprinting establishes the foundation for this viable, long-term therapeutic solution. Objective: To position the biofabrication of bioartificial organs as a viable and disruptive medical solution for end-stage organ failure, overcoming the traditional transplantation barriers of donor scarcity and immune rejection. Methods:  This review was based on a comprehensive literature search conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar, encompassing literature published between 2019 and 2025 in both Spanish and English. Articles were selected based on their relevance to the scope of this literature review. The inclusion criteria comprised: systematic reviews, original research articles, and review articles focused on organ biofabrication and organ transplantation that contained clinically relevant data, up to date information, and were fully open access. The exclusion criteria were grey literature, publications in other languages, non peer reviewed articles, duplicate records, and paywalled articles. Conclusion: Organ biofabrication represents a paradigm shift in transplant medicine. Despite critical remaining challenges, such as the vascularization of complex organs, the convergence of three-dimensional bioprinting and induced pluripotent stem cells holds promise as a viable solution for end-stage organ failure by yielding personalized, functional, and rejection-free organs.

Recibido: 25/10/2025

Aprobado: 26/03/2026