The complexity of human organs arises from sophisticated cell interactions and dynamic, spatially precise developmental processes. Traditional tissue engineering and bioprinting technologies have made considerable progress, yet remain limited in reproducing the intricate structural and functional complexity of native organs. Stem cells, renowned for their differentiation capacity and responsiveness to environmental signals, offer a transformative opportunity to overcome these barriers. This review extensively covers recent progress in stem-cell-based organ manufacturing, highlights critical strategies to guide developmentally inspired organ fabrication, and explores the integration of intrinsic (cell-intrinsic genetic networks and self-organization) and extrinsic (bioink dynamics, microfabrication, and mechanical cues) approaches, forming the conceptual foundation for the convergence of instructive bioprinting and autonomous development. Collectively, these advances illustrate how integrating developmental biology principles with biofabrication precision is transforming tissue engineering from descriptive reconstruction toward predictive, functional organ manufacturing.
Qi Gu (Thu,) studied this question.