Heart disease is the main cause of death worldwide. Because death of the myocardium is irreversible, it remains a significant clinical challenge to rescue myocardial deficiency. Cardiac tissue engineering (CTE) is a promising strategy for repairing heart defects and offers platforms for studying cardiac tissue. Numerous achievements have been made in CTE in the past decades based on various advanced engineering approaches. 3D bioprinting has attracted much attention due to its ability to integrate multiple cells within printed scaffolds with complex 3D structures, and many advancements in bioprinted CTE have been reported recently. Herein, we review the recent progress in 3D bioprinting for CTE. After a brief overview of CTE with conventional methods, the current 3D printing strategies are discussed. Bioink formulations based on various biomaterials are introduced, and strategies utilizing composite bioinks are further discussed. Moreover, several applications including heart patches, tissue-engineered cardiac muscle, and other bionic structures created via 3D bioprinting are summarized. Finally, we discuss several crucial challenges and present our perspective on 3D bioprinting techniques in the field of CTE.
Development of B cell memory is a conundrum that scientists are still exploring. Studies have been conducted in vitro and using advanced animal models to elucidate the mechanism underlying the generation of memory B cells (MBCs), the precise roles of MBCs against pathogens, and their protective functions against repeated infections throughout life. Lifelong immunity against invading diseases is mainly the result of overcoming a single infection. This protection is largely mediated by the two main components of B cell memory—MBCs and long-lived plasma cells (PCs). The chemical and cellular mechanisms that encourage fat selection for MBCs or long-lived PCs are an area of active research. Despite the fact that nearly all available vaccinations rely on the capacity to elicit B-cell memory, we have yet to develop successful vaccines that can induce broad-scale protective MBCs against some of the deadliest diseases, including malaria and AIDS. A deeper understanding of the specific cellular and molecular pathways that govern the generation, function, and reactivation of MBCs is critical for overcoming the challenges associated with vaccine development. Here, we reviewed literature on the development of MBCs and their reactivation, interaction with other cell types, strategies against invading pathogens, and function throughout life and discussed the recent advances regarding the key signals and transcription factors which regulate B cell memory and their relevance to the quest for vaccine development.