3D Printing and Bioprinting to Model Bone Cancer: The Role of Materials and Nanoscale Cues in Directing Cell Behavior

Bone cancer, both primary and metastatic, is characterized by a low survival rate. Currently, available models lack in mimicking the complexity of bone, of cancer, and of their microenvironment, leading to poor predictivity. Three-dimensional technologies can help address this need, by developing predictive models that can recapitulate the conditions for cancer development and progression. Among the existing tools to obtain suitable 3D models of bone cancer, 3D printing and bioprinting appear very promising, as they enable combining cells, biomolecules, and biomaterials into organized and complex structures that can reproduce the main characteristic of bone. The challenge is to recapitulate a bone-like microenvironment for analysis of stromal–cancer cell interactions and biological mechanics leading to tumor progression. In this review, existing approaches to obtain in vitro 3D-printed and -bioprinted bone models are discussed, with a focus on the role of biomaterials selection in determining the behavior of the models and its degree of customization. To obtain a reliable 3D bone model, the evaluation of different polymeric matrices and the inclusion of ceramic fillers is of paramount importance, as they help reproduce the behavior of both normal and cancer cells in the bone microenvironment. Open challenges and future perspectives are discussed to solve existing shortcomings and to pave the way for potential development strategies.

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Three-dimensionally printed polycaprolactone/multicomponent bioactive glass scaffolds for potential application in bone tissue engineering

Biomedical glasses ◽

10.1515/bglass-2020-0006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 57-69

Author(s):

Amirhosein Fathi ◽

Farzad Kermani ◽

Aliasghar Behnamghader ◽

Sara Banijamali ◽

Masoud Mozafari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

3D Printing ◽

Bone Tissue Engineering ◽

Bone Tissue ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Layer By Layer ◽

Composite Scaffolds ◽

3D Printed ◽

Co Doped

AbstractOver the last years, three-dimensional (3D) printing has been successfully applied to produce suitable substitutes for treating bone defects. In this work, 3D printed composite scaffolds of polycaprolactone (PCL) and strontium (Sr)- and cobalt (Co)-doped multi-component melt-derived bioactive glasses (BGs) were prepared for bone tissue engineering strategies. For this purpose, 30% of as-prepared BG particles (size <38 μm) were incorporated into PCL, and then the obtained composite mix was introduced into a 3D printing machine to fabricate layer-by-layer porous structures with the size of 12 × 12 × 2 mm3.The scaffolds were fully characterized through a series of physico-chemical and biological assays. Adding the BGs to PCL led to an improvement in the compressive strength of the fabricated scaffolds and increased their hydrophilicity. Furthermore, the PCL/BG scaffolds showed apatite-forming ability (i.e., bioactivity behavior) after being immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). The in vitro cellular examinations revealed the cytocompatibility of the scaffolds and confirmed them as suitable substrates for the adhesion and proliferation of MG-63 osteosarcoma cells. In conclusion, 3D printed composite scaffolds made of PCL and Sr- and Co-doped BGs might be potentially-beneficial bone replacements, and the achieved results motivate further research on these materials.

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The Role of Pre-Clinical 3-Dimensional Models of Osteosarcoma

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21155499 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (15) ◽

pp. 5499

Author(s):

Hannah L. Smith ◽

Stephen A. Beers ◽

Juliet C. Gray ◽

Janos M. Kanczler

Keyword(s):

Three Dimensional ◽

Chorioallantoic Membrane ◽

3D Models ◽

In Ovo ◽

Future Directions ◽

3 Dimensional ◽

In Vivo Animal Models

Treatment for osteosarcoma (OS) has been largely unchanged for several decades, with typical therapies being a mixture of chemotherapy and surgery. Although therapeutic targets and products against cancer are being continually developed, only a limited number have proved therapeutically active in OS. Thus, the understanding of the OS microenvironment and its interactions are becoming more important in developing new therapies. Three-dimensional (3D) models are important tools in increasing our understanding of complex mechanisms and interactions, such as in OS. In this review, in vivo animal models, in vitro 3D models and in ovo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) models, are evaluated and discussed as to their contribution in understanding the progressive nature of OS, and cancer research. We aim to provide insight and prospective future directions into the potential translation of 3D models in OS.

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A review on the role of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19: safety and challenges

Rapid Prototyping Journal ◽

10.1108/rpj-08-2020-0198 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Sapam Ningthemba Singh ◽

Vavilada Satya Swamy Venkatesh ◽

Ashish Bhalchandra Deoghare

Keyword(s):

Supply Chain ◽

3D Printing ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Content Type ◽

Medical Supplies ◽

Future Challenges ◽

Safety And Reliability ◽

3D Printed ◽

Comprehensive Study

Purpose During the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-dimensional (3D) printing community is actively participating to address the supply chain gap of essential medical supplies such as face masks, face shields, door adapters, test swabs and ventilator valves. This paper aims to present a comprehensive study on the role of 3D printing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, its safety and its challenges. Design/methodology/approach This review paper focuses on the applications of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19 along with the safety and challenges associated with 3D printing to fight COVID-19. The literature presented in this paper is collected from the journal indexing engines including Scopus, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, PubMed, Web of Science, etc. The main keywords used for searches were 3D printing COVID-19, Safety of 3D printed parts, Sustainability of 3D printing, etc. Further possible iterations of the keywords were used to collect the literature. Findings The applications of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19 are 3D printed face masks, shields, ventilator valves, test swabs, drug deliveries and hands-free door adapters. As most of these measures are implemented hastily, the safety and reliability of these parts often lacked approval. The safety concerns include the safety of the printed parts, operators and secondary personnel such as the workers in material preparation and transportation. The future challenges include sustainability of the process, long term supply chain, intellectual property and royalty-free models, etc. Originality/value This paper presents a comprehensive study on the applications of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19 with emphasis on the safety and challenges in it.

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Evaluation of the 3D Printing Accuracy of a Dental Model According to Its Internal Structure and Cross-Arch Plate Design: An In Vitro Study

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma13235433 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (23) ◽

pp. 5433

Author(s):

Seung-Ho Shin ◽

Jung-Hwa Lim ◽

You-Jung Kang ◽

Jee-Hwan Kim ◽

June-Sung Shim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Internal Structure ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Thick Shell ◽

Plate Design ◽

Dental Model ◽

3D Printed ◽

Modeling Data

The amount of photopolymer material consumed during the three-dimensional (3D) printing of a dental model varies with the volume and internal structure of the modeling data. This study analyzed how the internal structure and the presence of a cross-arch plate influence the accuracy of a 3D printed dental model. The model was designed with a U-shaped arch and the palate removed (Group U) or a cross-arch plate attached to the palate area (Group P), and the internal structure was divided into five types. The trueness and precision were analyzed for accuracy comparisons of the 3D printed models. Two-way ANOVA of the trueness revealed that the accuracy was 135.2 ± 26.3 µm (mean ± SD) in Group U and 85.6 ± 13.1 µm in Group P. Regarding the internal structure, the accuracy was 143.1 ± 46.8 µm in the 1.5 mm-thick shell group, which improved to 111.1 ± 31.9 µm and 106.7 ± 26.3 µm in the roughly filled and fully filled models, respectively. The precision was 70.3 ± 19.1 µm in Group U and 65.0 ± 8.8 µm in Group P. The results of this study suggest that a cross-arch plate is necessary for the accurate production of a model using 3D printing regardless of its internal structure. In Group U, the error during the printing process was higher for the hollowed models.

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Living the heart in three dimensions: applications of 3D printing in CHD

Cardiology in the Young ◽

10.1017/s1047951119000398 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (06) ◽

pp. 733-743 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mari Nieves Velasco Forte ◽

Tarique Hussain ◽

Arno Roest ◽

Gorka Gomez ◽

Monique Jongbloed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Heart Surgery ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Structural Heart Disease ◽

Medical Personnel ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Patient Specific ◽

3D Printed

AbstractAdvances in biomedical engineering have led to three-dimensional (3D)-printed models being used for a broad range of different applications. Teaching medical personnel, communicating with patients and relatives, planning complex heart surgery, or designing new techniques for repair of CHD via cardiac catheterisation are now options available using patient-specific 3D-printed models. The management of CHD can be challenging owing to the wide spectrum of morphological conditions and the differences between patients. Direct visualisation and manipulation of the patients’ individual anatomy has opened new horizons in personalised treatment, providing the possibility of performing the whole procedure in vitro beforehand, thus anticipating complications and possible outcomes. In this review, we discuss the workflow to implement 3D printing in clinical practice, the imaging modalities used for anatomical segmentation, the applications of this emerging technique in patients with structural heart disease, and its limitations and future directions.

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Multi-layer Scaffolds of Poly(caprolactone), Poly(glycerol sebacate) and Bioactive Glasses Manufactured by Combined 3D Printing and Electrospinning

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano10040626 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 626 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Adja B. R. Touré ◽

Elisa Mele ◽

Jamieson K. Christie

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Bioactive Glasses ◽

Multi Scale ◽

Potential Applications ◽

3D Printed ◽

Excellent Adhesion ◽

Poly Caprolactone ◽

Hydrolysis Of

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been combined with electrospinning to manufacture multi-layered polymer/glass scaffolds that possess multi-scale porosity, are mechanically robust, release bioactive compounds, degrade at a controlled rate and are biocompatible. Fibrous mats of poly (caprolactone) (PCL) and poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS) have been directly electrospun on one side of 3D-printed grids of PCL-PGS blends containing bioactive glasses (BGs). The excellent adhesion between layers has resulted in composite scaffolds with a Young’s modulus of 240–310 MPa, higher than that of 3D-printed grids (125–280 MPa, without the electrospun layer). The scaffolds degraded in vitro by releasing PGS and BGs, reaching a weight loss of ~14% after 56 days of incubation. Although the hydrolysis of PGS resulted in the acidification of the buffer medium (to a pH of 5.3–5.4), the release of alkaline ions from the BGs balanced that out and brought the pH back to 6.0. Cytotoxicity tests performed on fibroblasts showed that the PCL-PGS-BGs constructs were biocompatible, with cell viability of above 125% at day 2. This study demonstrates the fabrication of systems with engineered properties by the synergy of diverse technologies and materials (organic and inorganic) for potential applications in tendon and ligament tissue engineering.

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The Role of 3D Printing in Medical Applications: A State of the Art

Journal of Healthcare Engineering ◽

10.1155/2019/5340616 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Anna Aimar ◽

Augusto Palermo ◽

Bernardo Innocenti

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Digital Information ◽

Medical Implants ◽

Medical Field ◽

3D Printed ◽

Pipe Dream ◽

Manufacturing Technologies

Three-dimensional (3D) printing refers to a number of manufacturing technologies that generate a physical model from digital information. Medical 3D printing was once an ambitious pipe dream. However, time and investment made it real. Nowadays, the 3D printing technology represents a big opportunity to help pharmaceutical and medical companies to create more specific drugs, enabling a rapid production of medical implants, and changing the way that doctors and surgeons plan procedures. Patient-specific 3D-printed anatomical models are becoming increasingly useful tools in today’s practice of precision medicine and for personalized treatments. In the future, 3D-printed implantable organs will probably be available, reducing the waiting lists and increasing the number of lives saved. Additive manufacturing for healthcare is still very much a work in progress, but it is already applied in many different ways in medical field that, already reeling under immense pressure with regards to optimal performance and reduced costs, will stand to gain unprecedented benefits from this good-as-gold technology. The goal of this analysis is to demonstrate by a deep research of the 3D-printing applications in medical field the usefulness and drawbacks and how powerful technology it is.

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DOZ047.72: Three-dimensional printing for preoperative planning of open laryngotracheal surgery

Diseases of the Esophagus ◽

10.1093/dote/doz047.72 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

G Fishman ◽

O Wasserzug ◽

P Berman ◽

E Golden ◽

A DeRow

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Preoperative Planning ◽

Medical Center ◽

Cricoid Cartilage ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Balloon Dilation ◽

3D Models ◽

Subglottic Stenosis ◽

Preliminary Results

Abstract Background Three-dimensional (3D) printing is being employed in a variety of surgical specialties to improve patient care. These models enable preoperative in vitro planning, advanced resident training, and better patient education. 3D models of the tracheobronchial tree that can simulate bronchoscopy and 3D printed cricoid cartilage models for balloon dilation training have been reported. A 3D model for preoperative planning of open laryngotracheal surgery has not been reported. Objectives The objective of this study was to report preliminary results with the employment of 3D printing technology for preoperative planning of laryngotracheoplasty (LTP) and cricotracheal resection (CTR). Materials and Methods Actual-size 3D models of the upper airway, from the level of the base of tongue to the level of the carina, have been created by the surgical 3D printing lab in the medical center. The models were based on computed tomography of two patients who were scheduled for LTP and CTR. The models were composed of several elements: the framework of the larynx and the trachea, the air column, the cannula, and the peri-stomal region. Results Two models were created, a model of a patient with grade III subglottic stenosis who subsequently underwent LTP and a model of a patient with grade IV subglottic stenosis who subsequently underwent CTR and end to end anastomosis. The 3D models were found to be useful for preoperative planning of the incision site in the trachea, the status of the tracheal and laryngeal framework, the length of the diseased segment, and the length of the rib cartilage graft to be harvested. Conclusions The preliminary results of this study imply that 3D models can be useful for preoperative planning of open laryngotracheal surgery. Further experience is required to establish its efficacy, the optimal model design, and cost effectiveness.

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A review and guide to creating patient specific 3D printed anatomical models from MRI for benign gynecologic surgery

3D Printing in Medicine ◽

10.1186/s41205-021-00107-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Teresa E. Flaxman ◽

Carly M. Cooke ◽

Olivier X. Miguel ◽

Adnan M. Sheikh ◽

Sukhbir S. Singh

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Clinical Benefit ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Uterine Fibroids ◽

3D Models ◽

Gynecologic Surgery ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Mr Images ◽

Adjacent Structures ◽

3D Printed

Abstract Background Patient specific three-dimensional (3D) models can be derived from two-dimensional medical images, such as magnetic resonance (MR) images. 3D models have been shown to improve anatomical comprehension by providing more accurate assessments of anatomical volumes and better perspectives of structural orientations relative to adjacent structures. The clinical benefit of using patient specific 3D printed models have been highlighted in the fields of orthopaedics, cardiothoracics, and neurosurgery for the purpose of pre-surgical planning. However, reports on the clinical use of 3D printed models in the field of gynecology are limited. Main text This article aims to provide a brief overview of the principles of 3D printing and the steps required to derive patient-specific, anatomically accurate 3D printed models of gynecologic anatomy from MR images. Examples of 3D printed models for uterine fibroids and endometriosis are presented as well as a discussion on the barriers to clinical uptake and the future directions for 3D printing in the field of gynecological surgery. Conclusion Successful gynecologic surgery requires a thorough understanding of the patient’s anatomy and burden of disease. Future use of patient specific 3D printed models is encouraged so the clinical benefit can be better understood and evidence to support their use in standard of care can be provided.

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The use of three-dimensional anatomical patient-specific printed models in surgical clipping of intracranial aneurysm: A pilot study

Surgical Neurology International ◽

10.25259/sni_361_2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 381

Author(s):

Moneer K. Faraj ◽

Samer S. Hoz ◽

Amjad J. Mohammad

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Teaching Hospital ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

3D Models ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Anterior Communicating Artery ◽

Parent Vessel ◽

Microsurgical Clipping ◽

Valuable Adjunct ◽

3D Printed

Background: In the present study, we aim to develop simulation models based on computed tomography angiography images of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and their parent vessels using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. The study focuses on the value of these 3D models in presurgical planning and intraoperative navigation and ultimately their impact on patient outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of its kind from a war-torn country, like Iraq. Methods: This is a prospective study of a series of 11, consecutively enrolled, patients suffering from IAs for the period between February and September 2019. The study represents a collaboration between the two major neurosurgical centers in Baghdad/Iraq; Neurosciences Teaching Hospital and Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital. We analyzed the data of eleven patients with IAs treated by microsurgical clipping. These data include patient demographics, clinical, surgical, and outcomes along with the data of the 3D-printed replica used in these surgeries. All cases were operated on by one surgeon. Results: Our study included 11 patients, with a total of 11 aneurysms clipped. The mean age was 44 ± 8, with a median of 42.5 and a range of 35–61 years. About 60% of our patients were female with a female-to-male ratio of 1:5. About 60% of the aneurysms were located at the anterior communicating artery (Acom) while the remaining 40% were equally distributed between the posterior communicating and internal carotid arteries bifurcation. The standard pterional approach was followed in 50% of cases, whereas the other 50% of patients were treated through the lateral supraorbital approach. About 90% (n = 9) of the patients had a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) of 5 and 10% had a GOS of 4. The 3D-printed models successfully replicated the aneurysm size, location, and relation to the parent vessel with 100% accuracy and were used for intraoperative guidance. The average production time was 24–48 h and the production cost was 10–20 US dollars. Conclusion: 3D printing is a promising technology that is rapidly penetrating the field of neurosurgery. In particular, the use of 3D-printed patient-matched, anatomically accurate replicas of the cerebral vascular tree is valuable adjunct to the microsurgical clipping of IAs, and our study conclusions support this concept. However, both the feasibility and clinical utility of 3D printing remain the subject of much, ongoing investigations.

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