The checkpoints for polymer nanoformulations from synthesis to clinic application are proposed as guidelines to develop safe and effective therapeutics.

The multidisciplinary research field of bioprinting combines additive manufacturing, biology and material sciences to create bioconstructs with three-dimensional architectures mimicking natural living tissues. The high interest in the possibility of reproducing biological tissues and organs is further boosted by the ever-increasing need for personalized medicine, thus allowing bioprinting to establish itself in the field of biomedical research, and attracting extensive research efforts from companies, universities, and research institutes alike. In this context, this paper proposes a scientometric analysis and critical review of the current literature and the industrial landscape of bioprinting to provide a clear overview of its fast-changing and complex position. The scientific literature and patenting results for 2000–2020 are reviewed and critically analyzed by retrieving 9314 scientific papers and 309 international patents in order to draw a picture of the scientific and industrial landscape in terms of top research countries, institutions, journals, authors and topics, and identifying the technology hubs worldwide. This review paper thus offers a guide to researchers interested in this field or to those who simply want to understand the emerging trends in additive manufacturing and 3D bioprinting. Graphic abstract

The architecture, composition and molecular weight (MW) of polymers and copolymers made via free radical polymerization are important parameters that affect the end-use of both these polymeric materials and the nanoparticles that they compose. In order to gain control over these parameters, several controlled radical polymerizations (CRPs)—such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization—have been developed over the past few decades. However, the toxicity, biocompatibility and degradation profile of these materials are emerging as key features for their final disposal and for certain applications, such as the synthesis of biomaterials. In this case, polyesters made via ring opening polymerization (ROP) are preferred due to the control over the synthesis that this technique allows as well as the biodegradability of the final material. The combination of ROP with CRP techniques has allowed for the synthesis of polymeric surfactants capable of self-assembling into biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications. This review presents and critically discusses the primary strategies for the synthesis of highly engineered colloids via the combination of ROP with two CRP techniques: ATRP and RAFT polymerization.