Application Of 3D Printing Technology Research Articles

Treatment of complex limb fractures with 3D printing technology combined with personalized plates: a retrospective study of case series and literature review

BackgroundIn recent years, 3D printing technology has made significant strides in the medical field. With the advancement of orthopedics, there is an increasing pursuit of high surgical quality and optimal functional recovery. 3D printing enables the creation of precise physical models of fractures, and customized personalized steel plates can better realign and more comprehensively and securely fix fractures. These technologies improve preoperative diagnosis, simulation, and planning for complex limb fractures, providing patients with better treatment options.Patients and methodsFive typical cases were selected from a pool of numerous patients treated with 3D printing technology combined with personalized custom steel plates at our hospital. These cases were chosen to demonstrate the entire process of printing 3D models and customizing individualized steel plates, including details of the patients' surgeries and treatment procedures. Literature reviews were conducted, with a focus on highlighting the application of 3D printing technology combined with personalized custom steel plates in the treatment of complex limb fractures.Results3D printing technology can produce accurate physical models of fractures, and personalized custom plates can achieve better fracture realignment and more comprehensive and robust fixation. These technologies provide patients with better treatment options.ConclusionThe use of 3D printing models and personalized custom steel plates can improve preoperative diagnosis, simulation, and planning for complex limb fractures, realizing personalized medicine. This approach helps reduce surgical time, minimize trauma, enhance treatment outcomes, and improve patient functional recovery.

3D printing of porous zirconia support for solid oxide fuel cells with high cell performance

This work reports the preparation and characterization of a 3D-printed porous 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (3YSZ) inert-supported micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cell (MT-SOFC) with high cell performance. For the first time, the impacts of pore-former particle size and mass fraction on the microstructure of 3D-printed porous 3YSZ, along with the influences of debinding atmosphere and pre-sintering temperature on the flexural strength and the shrinkage rate, were comprehensively explored. Optimal results were achieved using a particle size of 3 μm and a mass fraction of 30 wt.%, facilitating the preparation of a printable 3YSZ photocurable slurry with a relatively low apparent viscosity of 4.2 Pa·s at a shear rate of 30 s-1. Notably, 3D-printed porous 3YSZ debound in nitrogen and sintered in air at 1400 °C exhibited the highest flexural strength of ∼80.2 MPa compared to debinding in air or vacuum. Based on flexural strength and shrinkage rate considerations, the 3D-printed porous 3YSZ debound in nitrogen and pre-sintered at 1150 °C was deemed suitable as an inert support for SOFC. Cells prepared using this optimized approach demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving a maximum power density of 876.8 mW·cm–2 at 850 °C, surpassing inert-supported MT-SOFCs fabricated using traditional methods. The outstanding cell performance underscores the successful application of 3D printing technology in preparing porous 3YSZ inert supports for SOFCs, offering an attractive approach for cell preparation and porous ceramics.

A starch-based 3D printed intelligent colorimetric film co-loaded natural pigments for visualizing food freshness: Effect of nozzle size on gel structure formation

Freshness intelligent visualization packaging is an innovative form for fresh/pre-made foods. Here, a highly responsive 3D printed intelligent colorimetric film (CF) was prepared by incorporating blueberry anthocyanin-phycocyanin (BA-PC) as an indicator and chondroitin sulfate (CS) as a co-pigment/co-carrier into a potato starch (PS) matrix. Enhanced sensitivity and stabilizing effect of CS on BA-PC were demonstrated to perform through sulfate group complexation and hydrogen bonding. CF was formed by modulating the 3D printed nozzle size from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm, where CF 0.4 (nozzle diameter=0.4 mm) presented the smoothest and homogeneous gel structure, with the highest sensitivity to ammonia response (35.43%) by the action of appropriate ink extrusion. Besides, CF 0.4 exhibited high antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates > 75%), biosafety, and degradability. The film responded efficiently to the freshness of salmon and beef, and this colorimetric monitoring reflection was transferred to digitized freshness color signals by recognizing RGB values via a smartphone App, which reduced inter-individual differences in visual recognition. Overall, the findings broaden the diverse applications of 3D printing technology in the intelligent food packaging industry.

Fabrication of bamboo-inspired continuous carbon fiber-reinforced SiC composites via dual-material thermally assisted extrusion-based 3D printing

Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) structural components encounter the dual challenges of severe mechanical conditions and complex electromagnetic environments due to the increasing demand for stealth technology in aerospace field. To address various functional requirements, this study integrates a biomimetic strategy inspired by gradient bamboo vascular bundles with a novel dual-material 3D printing approach. Three distinct bamboo-inspired structural configurations Cf/SiC composites are designed and manufactured, and the effects of these different structural configurations on the CVI process are analyzed. Nanoindentation method is utilized to characterize the relationship between interface bonding strength and mechanical properties. The results reveal that the maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness reach 108.6±5.2 MPa and 16.45±1.52 MPa·m1/2, respectively, attributed to the enhanced crack propagation resistance and path caused by the weak fiber-matrix interface. Furthermore, the bio-inspired configuration enhances the dielectric loss and conductivity loss, exhibiting a minimum reflection loss of -24.3 dB with the effective absorption band of 3.89 GHz. This work introduces an innovative biomimetic strategy and 3D printing method for continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic composites, expanding the application of 3D printing technology in the field of CMCs.

CHARACTERIZATION OF 3D PRINTED CONDUCTIVE FLEXIBLE MATERIALS FOR SOFT ROBOTIC APPLICATIONS

Soft robots composed of compliant and flexible materials can safely interact with humans and adapt to unstructured environments. However, integrating sensors, actuators, and control circuits into soft structures remains challenging. Additive manufacturing shows promise for fabricating soft robots with embedded electronics using conductive flexible composites. Nevertheless, there is still a limited understanding of the electromechanical behavior of 3D-printed conductive structures when subjected to the types of strains relevant to soft robotics applications. Optimized design requires characterizing the interplay between a soft component's changing shape and electrical properties during deformation. This study investigates the application of 3D printing technology to fabricate various geometries using a conductive, flexible material for soft robotic applications. The primary objective is to understand and characterize the behavior of differently shaped 3D-printed conductive materials under various mechanical stresses. Two distinct test setups are designed for conducting bending and tensile tests on the produced materials. Diverse geometries are printed using the conductive flexible material with desirable mechanical and electrical properties to employ tensile and bending tests. The experiments reveal a direct correlation between shape change and electrical resistance of the 3D printed materials, providing valuable insights into their adaptability for soft robotics. According to numerical results, honeycomb profiles are found to be the most linear and stable profile type. This research not only contributes to the field of flexible conductive materials but also lays the foundation for integrating these materials into future engineering designs, potentially enabling the development of highly responsive and adaptable devices for various industries.

Computer-Guided Bone Lid Technique for Surgical Extraction of Deeply Impacted Mandibular Third Molars: A Technical Report

The extraction of mandibular impacted third molars is one of the most common procedures in oral surgery. One of the extraction methods consists of the preparation of a buccal bone lid to obtain access and remove the tooth. This technique aims to reduce bone loss, promote bone healing distal to the second molar, and increase the accessibility to the impacted tooth, particularly in cases of concomitant pathologies or proximity to the mandibular canal. The procedure benefits from the application of 3D printing technologies to produce cutting guides that, combined with piezosurgery, allow deeply impacted third molar extractions with excellent preoperative planning and extreme localisation precision, as well as predictable repositioning and fixation of the bone lid. The objective of this article is to present two clinical cases of the application of the bone lid technique to extract deeply impacted third molars using 3D printed guides with different designs and piezosurgery.

New insights into the effects of low temperatures on the stress-optical properties of printable photopolymers: An experimental investigation

The application of 3D printing technology for replicating natural rock models and achieving the visualization and quantification of hidden structural changes and stress evolution in underground rocks holds significant importance for engineering disaster prevention as well as the development of oil and gas resources. The key to achieving this lies in developing model materials suitable for 3D printing that accurately depict the physical and mechanical properties of rocks. In this paper, the impact of temperature cycle treatment on the mechanical properties of printing material VeroClear was tested and the effect of temperature on the stress-optical properties of VeroClear was analyzed. By using 3D printing models with pre-existing cracks, the crack initiation conditions, propagation laws and stress field distribution characteristics of stress-sensitive materials at different temperatures were obtained. The results show that the mechanical properties of the freshly printed VeroClear model exhibit instability due to incomplete curing. Heat treatment can facilitate complete curing and enhance their mechanical characteristics, whereas cold treatment fails to yield similar improvements. Lower ambient temperatures reduce photoelastic fringe susceptibility to stress, yet allow accurate quantification of full-field stress within models by VeroClear. Lowering the temperature significantly enhances the brittleness of VeroClear, enabling printed models to demonstrate crack evolution characteristics similar to those observed in actual rocks. By analyzing the evolution of photoelastic fringe, it is found that the wing crack propagates along the direction of the local minimum principal stress difference near the crack tip. These findings provide a foundation for utilizing stress-sensitive materials with enhanced brittleness in low-temperature environments for simulating rocks and quantitatively analyzing their fracture behavior and the role of stress field control.

3D Printing Direct Powder Extrusion in the Production of Drug Delivery Systems: State of the Art and Future Perspectives.

The production of tailored, on-demand drug delivery systems has gained attention in pharmaceutical development over the last few years, thanks to the application of 3D printing technology in the pharmaceutical field. Recently, direct powder extrusion (DPE) has emerged among the extrusion-based additive manufacturing techniques. It is a one-step procedure that allows the direct processing of powdered formulations. The aim of this systematic literature review is to analyze the production of drug delivery systems using DPE. A total of 27 articles have been identified through scientific databases (Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect). The main characteristics of the three types of 3D printers based on DPE have been discussed. The selection of polymers and auxiliary excipients, as well as the flowability of the powder mixture, the rheological properties of the molten material, and the printing temperatures have been identified as the main critical parameters for successful printing. A wide range of drug delivery systems with varied geometries and different drug release profiles intended for oral, buccal, parenteral, and transdermal routes have been produced. The ability of this technique to manufacture personalized, on-demand drug delivery systems has been proven. For all these reasons, its implementation in hospital settings in the near future seems promising.

Application of 3D printing technology for the development of dose adjustable geriatric and pediatric formulation of celecoxib

Developing safe and effective formulations for the geriatric and pediatric population is a challenging task due to issues of swallowability and palatability. The lack of standardized procedures for pediatric formulations further complicates the process. Manipulating adult formulations for children can lead to suboptimal efficacy and safety concerns. To overcome these challenges, minitablets or spinklets are preferred for the geriatric and pediatric population due to their smaller size and flexible dose adjustment. The aim of this study is the development of a 3D printed spinklets formulation of celecoxib, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, using hot melt extrusion to address the limitations of traditional manufacturing methods. Three different formulations of celecoxib were prepared using Poly-2-ethyl-tetra-oxazoline (Aquazol) with and without surfactant. Subsequently, the mechanical properties and solubility of the drug-loaded filaments were evaluated. Solid state characterization confirmed the drug conversion into an amorphous form during the extrusion process, Computer-aided design software facilitate sprinklets design for fused deposition modeling and scanning electron microscopy assess the surface morphology. Sophorolipids plasticize better than TPGS, resulting in lowering processing temperatures during melt extrusion. In vitro drug release showed successful enhancements in the dissolution of oral medications for pediatric patients, considering their distinctive physiological characteristics. Overall, this study demonstrates the successful development of PEtOx-based 3D printed celecoxib sprinklets by coupling hot-melt extrusion and 3D printing technology. Future exploration holds the potential to revolutionize pharmaceutical production and advance personalized medication formulations.

The 3-dimensional printing for dental tissue regeneration: the state of the art and future challenges.

Tooth loss or damage poses great threaten to oral and general health. While contemporary clinical treatments have enabled tooth restoration to a certain extent, achieving functional tooth regeneration remains a challenging task due to the intricate and hierarchically organized architecture of teeth. The past few decades have seen a rapid development of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, which has provided new breakthroughs in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative dentistry. This review outlined the bioactive materials and stem/progenitor cells used in dental regeneration, summarized recent advancements in the application of 3D printing technology for tooth and tooth-supporting tissue regeneration, including dental pulp, dentin, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and so on. It also discussed current obstacles and potential future directions, aiming to inspire innovative ideas and encourage further development in regenerative medicine.

Intelligent multi-objective optimization of 3D printing low-carbon concrete for multi-scenario requirements

This study presents, for the first time, a universal theoretical framework based on machine learning (ML) algorithms for the multi-objective optimization (MOO) design of 3D printing low-carbon concrete to meet the sustainability requirements of the construction industry. The study focuses on the simultaneous reduction of carbon emissions and costs during the design process. Specifically, the applicable scenarios are primarily classified into two categories: meet aesthetics requirements (printing layer height error-HE and printing layer width error-WE approaching 0) and strengths requirements (compressive strength-CS approaching 60 MPa and interlayer bonding strength-IBS as high as possible). Through a comparison with the traditional design method, 3D printing concrete based on the intelligent design method achieves a 44% reduction in costs and a 19% reduction in carbon emissions while meeting aesthetics requirements. Under strengths requirements, there is a 57% reduction in costs and a 22% reduction in carbon emissions. This demonstrates the indispensable and crucial role of the MOO method employed in this study in achieving the lowest costs and carbon emissions. Additionally, the results of experimental verification demonstrate that the models developed in this study have successfully achieved a close alignment between design values and experimental values within the allowable error range (The errors are 3.46%–9.83%). This not only holds the potential to drive the widespread application of 3D printing technology in the construction industry but also presents new possibilities for cleaner production, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals.

The promising applications of 3D printing technology in neurotrauma

Neurotrauma mainly includes brain injury, spinal cord injury, and peripheral nerve injury, which are characterized by high morbidity and disability rates, and involve costly treatments. Currently, various strategies have been applied for the treatment of neurotrauma, but their efficacy is unsatisfactory. New effective strategies are needed to be developed to promote recovery after neurotrauma. In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has been used to manufacture customized and complex constructs in tissue engineering applications, exhibiting great potential in repairing nervous system injuries. In this review, we introduce the principles and advantages of 3D printing and 3D bioprinting technologies that have been applied to repair injured nervous system. In particular, we summarize the current strategies in the aspects of biomaterials, physical stimulation, bioactive substances, cell transplantation, and their combination that have been considered in fabricating 3D-printed devices for neurotrauma treatment. Additionally, the challenges and prospects of 3D printing for neurotrauma treatment were also presented.

Review: Application of 3D Printing Technology in Soft Robots

Review: Application of 3D Printing Technology in Soft Robots

Perspectives on 3D printed personalized medicines for pediatrics

In recent years, the rapid advancement of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has yielded distinct benefits across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical industry has particularly experienced advantages from the utilization of 3D-printed medications, which have invigorated the development of tailored drug formulations. The approval of 3D-printed drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has significantly propelled personalized drug delivery. Additionally, 3D printing technology can accommodate the precise requirements of pediatric drug dosages and the complexities of multiple drug combinations. This review specifically concentrates on the application of 3D printing technology in pediatric preparations, encompassing a broad spectrum of uses and refined pediatric formulations. It compiles and evaluates the fundamental principles associated with the application of 3D printing technology in pediatric preparations, including its merits and demerits, and anticipates its future progression. The objective is to furnish theoretical underpinning for 3D printing technology to facilitate personalized drug delivery in pediatrics and to advocate for its implementation in clinical settings.

Utilization of 3D printing technology in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.

The technology of three-dimensional (3D) printing emerged in the late 1970s and has since undergone considerable development to find numerous applications in mechanical engineering, industrial design, and biomedicine. In biomedical science, several studies have initially found that 3D printing technology can play an important role in the treatment of diseases in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. For example, 3D printing technology has been applied to create detailed anatomical models of disease organs for preoperative personalized surgical strategies, surgical simulation, intraoperative navigation, medical training, and patient education. Moreover, cancer models have been created using 3D printing technology for the research and selection of chemotherapy drugs. With the aim to clarify the development and application of 3D printing technology in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, we introduce seven common types of 3D printing technology and review the status of research and application of 3D printing technology in the field of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.

Research Progress of 3D Printing Technology for Pharmaceutical Preparation

Abstract: Pharmaceutical preparation is a kind of finished pharmaceutical product made by combining raw materials with various auxiliary materials in a certain form. At present, the field of pharmaceutical preparations can meet most drug needs, but there are some limitations. It is difficult to realize the production of personalized preparations. Because 3D printing technology has the ability of precise dose control and flexible shape customization, it can realize precise control of drug dosage, release behavior and local targeting in pharmaceutical preparations. Therefore, in medicine, 3D printing technology is increasingly used in the field of pharmaceutical preparations. 3D printing technology provides an important means for new drug printing and personalized drug customization of pharmaceutical preparations in the medical field. The 3D printing technology of drugs will inject fresh vitality into individualized drug delivery. Therefore, the development trend of 3D printing technology for pharmaceutical preparations has attracted more and more attention. In order to optimize the wide application of 3D printing technology in pharmaceutical preparation, 3D printing technology such as inkjet 3D printing technology, extrusion 3D printing technology and laser 3D printing technology were studied. In this paper, the selection, classification and introduction of 3D printing technology such as inkjet 3D printing technology, extrusion 3D printing technology and laser 3D printing technology in pharmaceutical preparations are reviewed. Through the investigation of various patents of 3D printing technology applied to pharmaceutical preparation in medicine, this paper summarizes and analyzes the main problems of 3D printing technology applied to pharmaceutical preparations, such as printing stability, production quality, etc. In addition, the development trend of 3D printing technology is also discussed. Optimization of various 3D printing technologies applied to pharmaceutical preparation in medicine is beneficial to improve printing stability and production quality in medicine. More related patents will be invented in the future.

3D printing technology and its combination with nanotechnology in bone tissue engineering.

With the graying of the world's population, the morbidity of age-related chronic degenerative bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, is increasing yearly, leading to an increased risk of bone defects, while current treatment methods face many problems, such as shortage of grafts and an incomplete repair. Therefore, bone tissue engineering offers an alternative solution for regenerating and repairing bone tissues by constructing bioactive scaffolds with porous structures that provide mechanical support to damaged bone tissue while promoting angiogenesis and cell adhesion, proliferation, and activity. 3D printing technology has become the primary scaffold manufacturing method due to its ability to precisely control the internal pore structure and complex spatial shape of bone scaffolds. In contrast, the fast development of nanotechnology has provided more possibilities for the internal structure and biological function of scaffolds. This review focuses on the application of 3D printing technology in bone tissue engineering and nanotechnology in the field of bone tissue regeneration and repair, and explores the prospects for the integration of the two technologies.

Research on prosthesis customization with 3D modeling and printing technology

With the development of science and technology and the maturity of technology, the application of 3D printing technology has developed from the art to the clinical medical treatment. Nowadays, the research and development and production of personalized customized orthopedic medical devices are possible, and the production line and supply chain of customized prostheses are constantly improving. The research on 3D printing and prosthesis customization technology is at the forefront of science. This article uses the method of literature review, reading, quoting, and summarizing several domestic and foreign professional experimental records and opinions, focusing on the history of 3D modeling and printing technology, the application method of this technology and the current clinical application of 3D modeling and printing technology. This paper puts forward reflection on the current shortcomings of the technology and my thinking and suggestions for future research. The conclusion of this paper is that 3D modeling and printing technology has played a great role in medical treatment, but there are still shortcomings in terms of cost and materials.

Utilizing 3D printing for geomembrane fabrication in laboratory-scale geotechnical testing

This research investigates the innovative application of 3D printing technology in the production of geomembranes for laboratory-scale geotechnical experiments. Commonly, geotechnical research relies on the results of model testing. However, due to the high costs and complexity involved, full-scale model testing is rarely carried out. Geomembranes are essential components in various civil engineering projects, particularly in environmental containment and hydraulic barrier systems. In this research, the potential of 3D printing as an innovative method for producing geomembranes is carried out. Using a 3D printer, this research aims to prepare geosynthetic models with accurate geometric scales and tensile properties suitable for laboratory testing. A comparison was made between HDPE geomembranes and 3D printed geomembranes, to highlight their performance in a geotechnical laboratory environment. The research results show that 3D printed geomembranes show potential for applications in geotechnical research.

Application of 3D printing technology for green synthesis of Fe2O3 using ABS/TPU/chlorella skeletons for methyl orange removal.

Photocatalysis is widely acknowledged as an efficient and environmentally friendly method for treating dye-contaminated wastewater. However, the utilization of powdered photocatalysts presents significant challenges, including issues related to recyclability and the potential for secondary pollution. Herein, a novel technique based on 3D printing for the synthesizing of iron oxide (Fe2O3) involving chlorella was presented. Initially, chlorella powders were immobilized within acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) substrate plastics using melt extrusion technology. Subsequently, these composite materials were transformed into ABS/TPU/chlorella skeletons (ATCh40), through fused deposition molding (FDM) technology. The integration of Fe2O3 onto the ATCh40 (ATCh40-Fe2O3) skeletons was accomplished by subjecting them to controlled heating in an oil bath. A comprehensive characterization of the synthesized materials confirms the successful growth of Fe2O3 on the surface of 3D skeletons. This strategy effectively addresses the immobilization challenges associated with powdered photocatalysts. In photocatalytic degradation experiments targeting methyl orange (MO), the ATCh40-Fe2O3 skeletons exhibited a remarkable MO removal rate of 91% within 240 min. Under conditions where the pH of MO solution was maintained at 3, and the ATCh40-Fe2O3 skeletons were subjected to a heat treatment in a 150 °C blast drying oven for 2 hours, the degradation rate of MO remained substantial, achieving 90% removal after 6 cycles. In contrast, when the same synthetic procedure was applied to ABS/TPU (AT) skeletons, the resulting product was identified as α-FeOOH. The MO removal rate by the AT-α-FeOOH skeletons was considerably lower, reaching only 49% after 240 min. This research provided a practical approach for the construction of photocatalytic devices through the use of 3D printing technology.