3D-Printed Polylactide Structures Do Not Affect the Demography of the Threatened Coral Acropora cervicornis

We aimed to explore the application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology with problem-based learning (PBL) teaching model in clinical nursing education of congenital heart surgery, and to further improve the teaching quality of clinical nursing in congenital heart surgery. In this study, a total of 132 trainees of clinical nursing in congenital heart surgery from a grade-A tertiary hospital in 2019 were selected and randomly divided into 3D printing group or traditional group. The 3D printing group was taught with 3D printed heart models combined with PBL teaching technique, while the traditional group used conventional teaching aids combined with PBL technique for teaching. After the teaching process, the 2 groups of nursing students were assessed and surveyed separately to evaluate the results. Compared to the traditional group, the theoretical scores, clinical nursing thinking ability, self-evaluation for comprehensive ability, and teaching satisfaction from the questionnaires filled by the 3D printing group were all higher than the traditional group. The difference was found to be statistically significant (P < .05). Our study has shown the 3D printing technology combined with the PBL teaching technique in the clinical nursing teaching of congenital heart surgery achieved good results.

Use of 3-Dimensional Printing Technology in Complex Spine Surgeries

South Africa is a country with significant socio-economic development challenges, with the majority of South Africans having limited or non-existent access to basic infrastructure, services, housing and socio-economic opportunities etc. The urban housing backlog currently exceeds 2.4 million houses, with many families living in informal settlements. The Breaking New Grounds Policy, 2014 for the creation of sustainable human settlements, acknowledges the challenges facing human settlements, such as, decreasing human settlements grants allocation, increasing housing backlog, mushrooming of informal settlements and urbanisation. The White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), 2019 notes that South Africa has not yet fully benefited from the potential of STI in addressing the socio-economic challenges and seeks to support the circular economy principles which entail a systematic change of moving to a zero or low waste resource-efficient society. Further to this, the Science and Technology Roadmap’s intention is to unlock the potential of South Africa’s human settlements for a decent standard of living through the smart uptake of science, technology and innovation. One such novel technology is the Three-Dimensional (3D) printing technology, which has produced numerous incredible structures around the world. 3D printing is a computer-controlled industrial manufacturing process which encompasses additive means of production to create 3D shapes. The effects of such a technology have a potential to change the world we live in and could subsequently pave the roadmap to improve on housing delivery and reduce the negative effects of conventional construction methods on the environment. To this end, the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), in partnership with the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) hosted the second virtual IID seminar titled: Exploring the Prospects of Using 3D Printing Technology in the South African Human Settlements, on 01 March 2021 to explore the potential use of 3D printing technology in human settlements. The webinar presented preliminary findings from a study conducted by UJ, addressing the following topics: 1. The viability of 3D printing technology 2. Cost comparison of 3D printed house to conventional construction 3. Preliminary perceptions on 3D printing of houses Speakers included: Dr Jennifer Mirembe (NDoHS), Dr Jeffrey Mahachi, Mr Refilwe Lediga, Mr Khululekani Ntakana and Dr Luxien Ariyan, all from UJ. There was a unanimous consensus that collaborative efforts from all stakeholders are key to take advantage of this niche technology. @ASSAf_Official; @dsigovza; @go2uj; @The_DHS; #SA 3D_Printing; #3D Print_Housing; #IID

In recent decades, polymers and biomaterials (polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL) and hydroxyapatite (HA)) have created a real alternative in orthopedics, surgery, and cardiac surgery to traditional metals, thanks to the possibility of elimination after the implementation of their function. Progress in 3D design and the possibility of involving 3D printing technologies to create three-dimensional structures makes it possible to bring modern science to a higher quality level. Also, the presence of disadvantages inherent in metal scaffolds, such as discrepancy in mechanical properties, uncontrolled resorption, and lack of biological neutrality of foreign material about bone tissue, due to the possible development of several clinical complications, is the main problem of using degradable alloys in clinical conditions. To eliminate these problems, the following methods are used: the formation of a protective coating, post-cast processing or the development of new alloys, the use of hydroxyapatite instead of metal bases, and the use of 3D printing technologies. Materials and methods. The author selected more than 50 scientific works from the world literature on the problems on techniques for tissue engineering: fused deposition modeling, 3D printing, 3D bio circuitry, stereolithography, and selective laser sintering. Results. The development of individual materials that are capable of biodegrading polymers and are biocompatible, alone or in combination with mineral components, makes it possible to obtain materials for 3D printing with mechanical properties and chemical stability suitable for use in bone tissue regeneration. The mechanical properties of the combined scaffolds can be used in the trabecular bone because they correspond to the mechanical characteristics of the latter. The ability to control degradation depends on the composition of the copolymer while demonstrating improvement as a result of the inclusion of mineral phases - hydroxyapatite. After all, HA enhances the degradation of copolymers based on PCl and PLA. The use of these materials during the production of three-dimensional structures by the method of direct 3D printing makes it possible to significantly reduce the consumption of resources and time. The possibility of correcting the framework architecture and porosity leads to the appearance of additional levers of balance and control in the direction of resorption of the nanomaterial, namely the possibility of creating artificial bone. Conclusions. The data from processed literary sources and the results of a large number of studies allow us to state that the method of direct 3D printing is a priority in the production of three-dimensional porous structures, the basis of which can be natural (collagen, alginates, gelatin and chitosan) and synthetic polymers (aliphatic polyesters, polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL), polydioxanone (PDO)). At the same time, the latter, due to their properties, are more prioritized.

A case report detailing the use of 3D printing technology in surgical planning and decision making in ENT surgery-an axial 3D first in Northern Ireland

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has shown potential advantages in accurate and efficient tibial plateau fracture (TPF) treatment. This technology can provide structural morphology to repair fracture fragments. Here, we summarize our experience with the use of 3D printing technology during intraarticular osteotomy in the treatment of the malunion of TPF. The patients who were treated with malunion of TPF in our hospital between January 2015 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: the conventional group without 3D-printed model application and the 3D printing group with 3D-printed model application. All patients received the intraarticular osteotomy during operation, and we compared the operation time (min), fracture healing time (months), postoperative knee Rasmussen scores (0-30 points), knee mobility range (0-140°) (the independent t-test), fracture reduction evaluation (Biggi's method) (the chi-square test: Fisher's exact test), and postoperative complications of each group. Twenty-six patients aged 18-65 years who underwent TPF revision operation were included in this study, including 18 patients in the conventional group, and eight patients in the 3D printing group. The follow-up time was 24-48months, and the operation time was 185min in the conventional group and 180min in the 3D printing group. All patients received a bone union at the last follow-up. The healing time was 4.2 months in the conventional group and 3.75months in the 3D printing group (p > 0.05). The respective postoperative Rasmussen scores were 24.6 and 26.2, and postoperative knee mobility was 103.5° and 118.5° in the conventional group and 3D printing group, respectively. Both the Rasmussen scores and degrees of mobility were significantly improved after surgery (p < 0.05), and the postoperative knee mobility was significantly better in the 3D printing group versus the conventional group (p < 0.05). Four patients still had a 2-mm collapse on the articular surface, and two patients still had slight valgus (<5°) in the conventional group. Only one case in the 3D printing group suffered from an articular surface collapse. Superficial wound infections occurred in two patients in the conventional group. The results show that 3D printing technology is an effective preoperative preparation in the treatment of TPF malunion. This technology can facilitate accurate preoperative planning to select the optimal surgical approach, plan the implant placement, visualize the screw trajectory, and anticipate possible intraoperative difficulties.

3D printing and solar cell fabrication methods: A review of challenges, opportunities, and future prospects

Purpose Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an innovative technology being utilized to create prostheses for individuals with limb loss. However, there is a paucity of research on the feasibility of using this technology to fabricate prostheses. A scoping review was conducted to map the literature on 3D printing and its applications in the field of amputation. Materials and methods Using a scoping review framework, a systematic literature search was conducted in three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL) for all indexed literature up to 29 June 2018. Results Twenty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies had small sample sizes (five participants or less; n = 20) and used a case study design (n = 17). The benefits of 3D printing technology include higher levels of customization and lower production costs. However, the functionality of 3D printed prostheses is lacking. There is also a need for more robust research designs to obtain a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of 3D printed prostheses and its impact on end-user outcomes. Conclusions The use of 3D printing technology has a number of benefits for improving the manufacturing process of devices for people with lower and upper limb loss. However, more research and technological advancements are required to fully understand the impact of this technology on patients and how it will affect their daily life. The long-term effects of this technology will also need to be investigated in order to produce a more sustainable alternative to traditional prostheses. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION The use of 3D printing technology for the fabrication of prosthetics for persons with limb-loss has a number of promising features to improve the fitting and customization of these devices for this patient population. Although the costs of producing 3D printed devices is less expensive and burdensome than traditional approaches to manufacturing techniques, there is a need for additional technological advancements to improve the functionality of these devices. Future research needs to adopt more robust research designs with larger sample sizes to provide a better understanding of the viability of using 3D printing technology to improve patient outcomes.

BackgroundRecent advances in 3D printing technology, and biomaterials are revolutionizing medicine. The beneficiaries of this technology are primarily patients, but also students of medical faculties. Taking into account that not all students have full, direct access to the latest advances in additive technologies, we surveyed their opinion on 3D printing and education in this area. The research aimed to determine what knowledge about the use of 3D printing technology in medicine, do students of medical faculties have.MethodsThe research was carried out in the form of a questionnaire among 430 students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland) representing various fields of medicine and health sciences. The questions included in the survey analyzed the knowledge of the respondents for 3D printing technology and the opportunities it creates in medicine.ResultsThe results indicate that students do have knowledge about 3D printing obtained mainly from the internet. They would be happy to deepen their knowledge at specialized courses in this field. Students appreciated the value of 3D printing in order to obtain accurate anatomical models, helpful in learning. However, they do not consider the possibility of complete abandonment of human cadavers in the anatomy classes. Their knowledge includes basic information about current applications of 3D printing in medicine, but not in all areas. However, they have no ethical doubts regarding the use of 3D printing in any form. The vast majority of students deemed it necessary to incorporate information regarding 3D printing technology into the curriculum of different medical majors.ConclusionThis research is the first of its kind, which allows for probing students' knowledge about the additive technologies in medicine. Medical education should be extended to include issues related to the use of 3D printing for medical applications.

A unique case report. A three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is proposed for reconstructing multilevel cervical spine (C2-C4) after resection of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma in a middle-age female patient. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm with a relatively favorable prognosis. A metastatic lesion in multilevel cervical spine (C2-C4) destroys neurological functions and causes local instability. Radical excision of the metastasis and reconstruction of the cervical vertebrae sequence conforms with therapeutic principles, whereas the special-shaped multilevel upper-cervical spine requires personalized implants. 3D printing is an additive manufacturing technology that produces personalized products by accurately layering material under digital model control via a computer. Reporting of this recent technology for reconstructing multilevel cervical spine (C2-C4) is rare in the literature. Anterior-posterior surgery was performed in one stage. Radical resection of the metastatic lesion (C2-C4) and thyroid gland, along with insertion of a personalized implant manufactured by 3D printing technology, were performed to rebuild the cervical spine sequences. The porous implant was printed in Ti6AL4V with perfect physicochemical properties and biological performance, such as biocompatibility and osteogenic activity. Finally, lateral mass screw fixation was performed via a posterior approach. Patient neurological function gradually improved after the surgery. The patient received 11/17 on the Japanese Orthopedic Association scale and ambulated with a personalized skull-neck-thorax orthosis on postoperative day 11. She received radioiodine I therapy. The plane x-rays and computed tomography revealed no implant displacement or subsidence at the 12-month follow-up mark. The presented case substantiates the use of 3D printing technology, which enables the personalization of products to solve unconventional problems in spinal surgery. 5.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), affecting around 25% of individuals with DM. Primary treatment of a DFU involves wound off-loading, surgical debridement, dressings to provide a moist wound environment, vascular assessment, and appropriate antibiotics through a multidisciplinary approach. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is considered an innovative tool for the management of DFUs. The utilization of 3D printing technology in the treatment of DFU involves the modernization of traditional methods and the exploration of new techniques. This review discusses recent advancements in 3D printing technology for the application of DFU care, and the development of personalized interventions for the treatment of DFUs. We searched the electronic database for the years 2019-2024. Studies related to the use of 3D printing technology in Diabetic foot were included. A total of 25 identified articles based on database search and citation network analysis. After removing duplicates, 18 articles remained, and three articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria were removed after reading the title/abstract. A total of 97 relevant articles were included during the reading of references. In total, 112 articles were included. 3D printing technology offers unparalleled advantages, particularly in the realm of personalized treatment. The amalgamation of traditional treatment methods with 3D printing has yielded favorable outcomes in decelerating the progression of DFUs and facilitating wound healing. However, there is a limited body of research regarding the utilization of 3D printing technology in the domain of DFUs.

Objectives:Three dimensional (3D) printing technology has many current and future applications in orthopaedics. The objectives of this article are to review published literature regarding applications of 3D technology in orthopaedic surgery with a focus on knee surgery.Methods:A narrative review of the applications of 3D printing technology in orthopaedic practice was achieved by a search of computerised databases, internet and reviewing references of identified publications.Results:There is current widespread use of 3D printing technology in orthopaedics. 3D technology can be used in education, preoperative planning and custom manufacturing. Custom manufacturing applications include surgical guides, prosthetics and implants. Many future applications exist including biological applications. 3D printed models of anatomy have assisted in the education of patients, students, trainees and surgeons. 3D printed models also assist with surgical planning of complex injuries or unusual anatomy. 3D printed surgical guides may simplify surgery, make surgery precise and reduce operative time. Computer models based on MRI or CT scans are utilised to plan surgery and placement of implants. Complex osteotomies can be performed using 3D printed surgical guides. This can be particularly useful around the knee. A 3D printed guide allows pre osteotomy drill holes for the plate fixation and provides an osteotomy guide to allow precise osteotomy. 3D printed surgical guides for knee replacement are widely available. 3D printing has allowed the emergence of custom implants. Custom implants that are patient specific have been particularly used for complex revision arthroplasty or for very difficult cases with altered anatomy. Future applications are likely to include biological 3D printing of cartilage and bone scaffolds.Conclusion:3D printing in orthopaedic surgery has and will continue to change orthopaedic practice. Its role is to provide safe, reproducible, reliable models with reduced operative time and improves patient outcomes compared to traditional surgical techniques. Long term follow up of the techniques is still required.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is increasingly commercially viable for pre-surgical planning, intraoperative templating, jig creation and customised implant manufacture. The challenging nature of scaphoid fracture and nonunion surgery make it an obvious target. The aim of this review is to determine the use of 3D printed technologies in the treatment of scaphoid fractures. Methods: This is a review of the Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library databases examining studies aimed at therapeutic use of 3D printing, also known as rapid prototyping or additive technology, in the treatment of scaphoid fractures. All studies published up to and including November 2020 were included in the search. Relevant data extracted included modality of use (as template/model/guide/prosthesis), operative time, accuracy of reduction, radiation exposure, follow-up duration, time to union, complications and study quality. Results: A total of 649 articles were identified, of which 12 met the full inclusion criteria. Analysis of the articles showed that 3D printing techniques can be utilised in myriad ways to aid planning and delivery of scaphoid surgery. Percutaneous guides for Kirschner-wire (K-wire) fixation of non-displaced fractures can be created; custom guides can be printed to aid reduction of displaced or non-united fractures; patient-specific total prostheses may recreate near-normal carpal biomechanics and a simple model may help graft harvesting and positioning. Conclusions: This review found that the use of 3D printed patient-specific models and templates in scaphoid surgery can improve accuracy and speed, and reduce radiation exposure. 3D printed prostheses may also restore near-normal carpal biomechanics without burning bridges for potential future procedures. Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic).

BackgroundTemporary implant-retained restorations are required to support function and esthetics of the masticatory system until the final restoration is completed and delivered. Acrylic resins are commonly used in prosthetic dentistry and lately they have been used in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. Since this technology it is fairly new, the number of studies on their susceptibility to microbial adhesion is low. Restorations placed even for a short period of time may become the reservoir for microorganisms that may affect the peri-implant tissues and trigger inflammation endangering further procedures. The aim of the study was to test the biofilm formation on acrylamide resins used to fabricate temporary restorations in 3D printing technology and to assess if the post-processing impacts microbial adhesion.MethodsDisk-shaped samples were manufactured using the 3D printing technique from three commercially available UV-curable resins consisting of acrylate and methacrylate oligomers with various time and inhibitors of polymerization (NextDent MFH bleach, NextDent 3D Plus, MazicD Temp). The tested samples were raw, polished and glazed. The ability to create biofilm by oral streptococci (S. mutans, S. sanguinis, S. oralis, S. mitis) was tested, as well as species with higher pathogenic potential: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida albicans. The roughness of the materials was measured by an atomic force microscope. Biofilm formation was assessed after 72 h of incubation by crystal violet staining with absorbance measurement, quantification of viable microorganisms, and imaging with a scanning electron microscope (SEM).ResultsEach tested species formed the biofilm on the samples of all three resins. Post-production processing resulted in reduced roughness parameters and biofilm abundance. Polishing and glazing reduced roughness parameters significantly in the NextDent resin group, while glazing alone caused significant surface smoothing in Mazic Temp. A thin layer of microbial biofilm covered glazed resin surfaces with a small number of microorganisms for all tested strains except S. oralis and S. epidermidis, while raw and polished surfaces were covered with a dense biofilm, rich in microorganisms.ConclusionsUV-curing acrylic resins used for fabricating temporary restorations in the 3D technology are the interim solution, but are susceptible to adhesion and biofilm formation by oral streptococci, staphylococci and Candida. Post-processing and particularly glazing process significantly reduce bacterial biofilm formation and the risk of failure of final restoration.

Purpose – An increasing amount of attention is being paid to three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. The technology itself is based on diverse technologies such as laser beams and materials. Hence, 3D printing technology is a converging technology that produces 3D objects using a 3D printer. To become technologically competitive, many companies and nations are developing technologies for 3D printing. So to know its technological evolution is meaningful for developing 3D printing in the future. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – To get technological competitiveness of 3D printing, the authors should know the most important and essential technology for 3D printing. An understanding of the technological evolution of 3D printing is needed to forecast its future technologies and build the R &amp; D planning needed for 3D printing. In this paper, the authors propose a methodology to analyze the technological evolution of 3D printing. The authors analyze entire patent documents related to 3D printing to construct a technological evolution model. The authors use the statistical methods such as time series regression, association analysis based on graph theory, and principal component analysis for patent analysis of 3D printing technology. Findings – Using the proposed methodology, the authors show the technological analysis results of 3D printing and predict its future aspects. Though many and diverse technologies are developed and involved in 3D printing, the authors know only a few technologies take lead the technological evolution of 3D printing. In this paper, the authors find this evolution of technology management for 3D printing. Practical implications – If not all, most people would agree that 3D printing technology is one of the leading technologies to improve the quality of life. So, many companies have developed a number of technologies if they were related to 3D printing. But, most of them have not been considered practical. These were not effective research and development for 3D printing technology. In the study, the authors serve a methodology to select the specific technologies for practical used of 3D printing. Originality/value – Diverse predictions for 3D printing technology have been introduced in many academic and industrial fields. Most of them were made by subjective approaches depended on the knowledge and experience of the experts concerning 3D printing technology. So, they could be fluctuated according to the congregated expert groups, and be unstable for efficient R &amp; D planning. To solve this problem, the authors study on more objective approach to predict the future state of 3D printing by analyzing the patent data of the developed results so far achieved. The contribution of this research is to take a new departure for understanding 3D printing technology using objective and quantitative methods.