scholarly journals 3D-Printing of Drug-Eluting Implants: An Overview of the Current Developments Described in the Literature

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 4066
Author(s):  
Vanessa Domsta ◽  
Anne Seidlitz

The usage of 3D-printing for drug-eluting implants combines the advantages of a targeted local drug therapy over longer periods of time at the precise location of the disease with a manufacturing technique that easily allows modifications of the implant shape to comply with the individual needs of each patient. Research until now has been focused on several aspects of this topic such as 3D-printing with different materials or printing techniques to achieve implants with different shapes, mechanical properties or release profiles. This review is intended to provide an overview of the developments currently described in the literature. The topic is very multifaceted and several of the investigated aspects are not related to just one type of application. Consequently, this overview deals with the topic of 3D-printed drug-eluting implants in the application fields of stents and catheters, gynecological devices, devices for bone treatment and surgical screws, antitumoral devices and surgical meshes, as well as other devices with either simple or complex geometry. Overall, the current findings highlight the great potential of the manufacturing of drug-eluting implants via 3D-printing technology for advanced individualized medicine despite remaining challenges such as the regulatory approval of individualized implants.

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Han ◽  
Sudip Kundu ◽  
Anindya Nag ◽  
Yongzhao Xu

This paper showcases a substantial review on some of the significant work done on 3D printing of sensors for biomedical applications. The importance of 3D printing techniques has bloomed in the sensing world due to their essential advantages of quick fabrication, easy accessibility, processing of varied materials and sustainability. Along with the introduction of the necessity and influence of 3D printing techniques for the fabrication of sensors for different healthcare applications, the paper explains the individual methodologies used to develop sensing prototypes. Six different 3D printing techniques have been explained in the manuscript, followed by drawing a comparison between them in terms of their advantages, disadvantages, materials being processed, resolution, repeatability, accuracy and applications. Finally, a conclusion of the paper is provided with some of the challenges of the current 3D printing techniques about the developed sensing prototypes, their corresponding remedial solutions and a market survey determining the expenditure on 3D printing for biomedical sensing prototypes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (23) ◽  
pp. 8594
Author(s):  
Paweł Komorowski ◽  
Mateusz Surma ◽  
Michał Walczakowski ◽  
Przemysław Zagrajek ◽  
Agnieszka Siemion

Medical and many other applications require small-volume setups enabling terahertz imaging. Therefore, we aim to develop a device for the in-reflection examination of the samples. Thus, in this article, we focus on the diffractive elements for efficient redirection and focusing of the THz radiation. A terahertz diffractive optical structure has been designed, optimized, manufactured (using extrusion-based 3D printing) and tested. Two manufacturing methods have been used—direct printing of the structures from PA12, and casting of the paraffin structures out of 3D-printed molds. Also, the limitations of the off-axis focusing have been discussed. To increase the efficiency, an iterative algorithm has been proposed that optimizes off-axis structures to focus the radiation into small focal spots located far from the optical axis, at an angle of more than 30 degrees. Moreover, the application of higher-order kinoform structure design allowed the maintaining of the smallest details of the manufactured optical element, using 3D printing techniques.


MRS Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia Rodriguez ◽  
Anil K. Bastola ◽  
Marc Behl ◽  
Patricia Soffiatti ◽  
Nick P. Rowe ◽  
...  

Abstract Inspired by the interesting functional traits of a climbing cactus, Selenicereus setaceus, found in the forest formations of Southeastern Brazil, we formulated a hypothesis that we can directly learn from the plants to develop multi-functional artificial systems by means of a multi-disciplinary approach. In this context, our approach is to take advantage of 3D-printing techniques and shape-memory hydrogels synergistically to mimic the functional traits of the cactus. This work reports on the preliminary investigation of cactus-inspired artificial systems. First, we 3D-printed soft polymeric materials and characterized them, which defines the structure and is a passive component of a multi-material system. Second, different hydrogels were synthesized and characterized, which is an active component of a multi-material system. Finally, we investigated how the hydrogel can be integrated into the 3D-printed constructs to develop artificial functional systems. Graphic abstract


Electronics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Massaccesi ◽  
Gianluca Dassano ◽  
Paola Pirinoli

In this paper, the design of a beam scanning, 3D-printed dielectric Transmitarray (TA) working in Ka-band is discussed. Thanks to the use of an innovative three-layer dielectric unit-cell that exploits tapered sections to enhance the bandwidth, a 50 × 50 elements transmitarray with improved scanning capabilities and wideband behavior has been designed and experimentally validated. The measured radiation performances over a scanning coverage of ±27 ∘ shown a variation of the gain lower than 2.9 dB and a 1-dB bandwidth in any case higher than 23%. The promising results suggest that the proposed TA technology is a valid alternative to realize a passive multibeam antenna, with the additional advantage that it can be easily manufactured using 3D-printing techniques.


Buildings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Guillermo Sotorrío Ortega ◽  
Javier Alonso Madrid ◽  
Nils O. E. Olsson ◽  
José Antonio Tenorio Ríos

The construction industry has embraced digitisation and industrialisation in response to the need to increase its productivity, optimise material consumption and improve workmanship. Additive manufacturing (AM), more widely known as 3D printing, has driven substantial progress in these respects in other industries, and a number of national and international projects have helped to introduce the technique to the construction industry. As with other innovative processes not covered by uniform standards, appropriate assessments and testing methodologies to control the quality of the 3D-printed end products, while not obligatory, are advisable. This article shows that regulation is not an obstacle to the use of an innovative product, such as 3D printing, by proposing quality-control tests and an assessment methodology, in the understanding that standardisation ensures the viability of a technology. The information, including the methods and results, is based on the authors’ experiences in the development of three research projects pertaining to 3D printing. This paper also discusses whether the performance of the materials used in 3D printing could be superior to traditional ones.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1345-1361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yee Ling Yap ◽  
Swee Leong Sing ◽  
Wai Yee Yeong

Purpose Soft robotics is currently a rapidly growing new field of robotics whereby the robots are fundamentally soft and elastically deformable. Fabrication of soft robots is currently challenging and highly time- and labor-intensive. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing of soft materials and multi-materials have become the key to enable direct manufacturing of soft robots with sophisticated designs and functions. Hence, this paper aims to review the current 3D printing processes and materials for soft robotics applications, as well as the potentials of 3D printing technologies on 3D printed soft robotics. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the polymer 3D printing techniques and materials that have been used for the development of soft robotics. Current challenges to adopting 3D printing for soft robotics are also discussed. Next, the potentials of 3D printing technologies and the future outlooks of 3D printed soft robotics are presented. Findings This paper reviews five different 3D printing techniques and commonly used materials. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique for the soft robotic application are evaluated. The typical designs and geometries used by each technique are also summarized. There is an increasing trend of printing shape memory polymers, as well as multiple materials simultaneously using direct ink writing and material jetting techniques to produce robotics with varying stiffness values that range from intrinsically soft and highly compliant to rigid polymers. Although the recent work is done is still limited to experimentation and prototyping of 3D printed soft robotics, additive manufacturing could ultimately be used for the end-use and production of soft robotics. Originality/value The paper provides the current trend of how 3D printing techniques and materials are used particularly in the soft robotics application. The potentials of 3D printing technology on the soft robotic applications and the future outlooks of 3D printed soft robotics are also presented.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Alex Svend Christensen

<p>Due to the economic advantage of mass manufacturing technology humans have designed a world of products built for the average body size and shape. This conformity of diverse body shapes to fixed 3 dimensional forms raises the question for this research; how can 3D scanning and additive manufacturing (AM) create a personal fit between an individual’s body and a product?  This question challenges a tool driven standardised approach to manufacture by exploring the interface between a person and a mass produced product, in this case a motorcycle rider and a motorcycle. By taking advantage of digital data and the tool-less build process of 3D printing, every object produced can be different, tailoring it to the customer’s individual aesthetic or physical fit.  This investigation into the space between the motorcycle and the human has produced a custom 3D printed seat designed for and inspired by the unique physicality of the individual rider. The following methods are employed. 3D scanning is used to obtain the geometry of the human form and motorcycle, 3D modelling and 3D printing to generate and evaluate ideas and concepts, and a pressure measurement system to evaluate the riders comfort and fit.  This new relationship between body and object, rarely seen in mass produced products, questions the way we design and make products with consideration towards digital personalisation and manufacturing efficiency.</p>


Author(s):  
Anurag Verma ◽  
Piyush Mittal ◽  
Milind S. Pande ◽  
Neelanchal Trivedi

Aloe-Vera or Aloe barbadensis (botanical name) is a plant with many medicinal properties and have great importance in Ayurveda. Its leaves are succulent, erect, forming a thick rosette. The internal translucent pulp of Aloe-Vera is bound to a waxy crust or cuticle, and its vascular tissues transport minerals as well as water from the soil. Aloe Vera is being used as a major skin rejuvenating product, although it has varied medicinal properties also. In the present study, an attempt to make a method to create bi-layer tablets of Aloe-Vera, utilizing 3D printing techniques is presented. The method created doesnt affect the integral functional characteristics of the tablet. The method here contains creating an immediate release and sustained release tablet for making the Aloe-Vera to be used directly by the person for its numerous health effects. The tablet is designed so to be consumed by vegans as well since it is completely herbal.


e-Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 549-565
Author(s):  
Tomasz Blachowicz ◽  
Guido Ehrmann ◽  
Andrea Ehrmann

Abstract 3D printing belongs to the emerging technologies of our time. Describing diverse specific techniques, 3D printing enables rapid production of individual objects and creating shapes that would not be produced with other techniques. One of the drawbacks of typical 3D printing processes, however, is the layered structure of the created parts. This is especially problematic in the production of optical elements, which in most cases necessitate highly even surfaces. To meet this challenge, advanced 3D printing techniques as well as other sophisticated solutions can be applied. Here, we give an overview of 3D printed optical elements, such as lenses, mirrors, and waveguides, with a focus on freeform optics and other elements for which 3D printing is especially well suited.


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