A comprehensive review of advancements in additive manufacturing for 3D printed medical components using diverse materials

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, has transformed industries over the past four decades by enabling cost-effective, on-demand production of geometrically complex objects across various fields, particularly in the biomedical sector. This technology allows for the design and fabrication of intricate shapes using a wide range of materials, including metals, polymers, ceramics, and bioinks. Its adoption in tissue engineering, medical device fabrication, and clinical applications has marked a significant leap in healthcare. AM has demonstrated immense potential for manufacturing customized implants such as dental structures, heart valves, and joint replacements, offering robust mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The versatility of AM has made it an indispensable tool in the biomedical industry, ensuring high precision, reduced costs, and rapid production. Research highlights the critical influence of manufacturing techniques on material properties, particularly in metallic implants. These implants exhibit superior mechanical and biomedical characteristics compared to conventionally manufactured counterparts. However, challenges remain, including issues related to inaccuracy, surface quality, and reinforcement distribution. The integration of advanced materials, such as Ta, Zr, Mo, TCP, and HAP, as alloys or reinforcements, holds promise for enhancing biocompatibility, cell growth, and the mechanical properties of biomedical implants. The present review articles provide an overview of AM processes, focusing on their applications, challenges, and material properties in the biomedical domain. It explores the state-of-the-art use of metals and alloys, polymers, ceramics, and biomaterials, detailing their applications and addressing problems like microstructure formation, mechanical property, and process parameter control.

Topics & Concepts