3D Printing Polyesters, Hydrogels and Composites for Medical Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 December 2020) | Viewed by 20240

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil
Interests: biomaterials; tissue engineering; biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo assays polymers; bioceramics; metal alloys; spinning techniques; plasma etching; atomic layer deposition
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Co-Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Interests: nanomedicine; synthesis, design, and evaluation of nanomaterials for various implant applications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many issues have been encountered in replacing or regenerating organs from organ transplants due to potential risks of complications, limited donors, biological compatibility, and injuries due to body rejection. Today, numerous strategies to replace tissues and organs use synthetic and biological materials. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology using commercial or homemade printing plotters has been applied to solve limitations in the traditional manner in which such materials are assembled. 3D printing has been used to rapidly manufacture personalized tissue engineering scaffolds, repair tissue defects in situ with cells, and even directly print tissue and organs. Such printed implants and organs not only perfectly match the patient’s damaged tissue but can also have engineered material microstructures and cell arrangements to promote cell growth and differentiation. Thus, such implants allow for desirable tissue repair and can solve donor-shortage problems. In this Special Issue, we will assemble original research and review papers from experts worldwide discussing recent progress, strategies, problems, and case studies using 3D printing and bioprinting technology for tissue engineering purposes.  It will also include papers on the future of 3D printing (such as emerging work in 4D printing in which the 4th dimension is time to change the shape of 3D-printed scaffolds after implantation to ensure success), as well as promises and pitfalls of such research.

Prof. Anderson de Oliveira Lobo
Prof. Thomas Jay Webster
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Novel additive manufacturing processes and techniques
  • Modeling and simulation of additive manufacturing processes
  • New materials for 3D printing  
  • Hybrid additive and conventional manufacturing
  • Medical applications of 3D printing and bio-printing
  • Advances in personal 3D Printers and consumer adoption
  • Mass customization, new business models
  • Material performance standards and data exchange forma

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

27 pages, 3396 KiB  
Review
3D Bioprinting in Tissue Engineering for Medical Applications: The Classic and the Hybrid
by Zelong Xie, Ming Gao, Anderson O. Lobo and Thomas J. Webster
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1717; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12081717 - 31 Jul 2020
Cited by 71 | Viewed by 11373
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing, as one of the most popular recent additive manufacturing processes, has shown strong potential for the fabrication of biostructures in the field of tissue engineering, most notably for bones, orthopedic tissues, and associated organs. Desirable biological, structural, and mechanical properties [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing, as one of the most popular recent additive manufacturing processes, has shown strong potential for the fabrication of biostructures in the field of tissue engineering, most notably for bones, orthopedic tissues, and associated organs. Desirable biological, structural, and mechanical properties can be achieved for 3D-printed constructs with a proper selection of biomaterials and compatible bioprinting methods, possibly even while combining additive and conventional manufacturing (AM and CM) procedures. However, challenges remain in the need for improved printing resolution (especially at the nanometer level), speed, and biomaterial compatibilities, and a broader range of suitable 3D-printed materials. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the development of 3D bioprinting techniques, particularly new hybrid 3D bioprinting technologies for combining the strengths of both AM and CM, along with a comprehensive set of material selection principles, promising medical applications, and limitations and future prospects. Full article
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26 pages, 1687 KiB  
Review
3D Printing and Bioprinting Nerve Conduits for Neural Tissue Engineering
by Xiaoling Yu, Tian Zhang and Yuan Li
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1637; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/polym12081637 - 23 Jul 2020
Cited by 65 | Viewed by 8256
Abstract
Fabrication of nerve conduits for perfectly repairing or replacing damaged peripheral nerve is an urgent demand worldwide, but it is also a formidable clinical challenge. In the last decade, with the rapid development of manufacture technologies, 3D printing and bioprinting have been becoming [...] Read more.
Fabrication of nerve conduits for perfectly repairing or replacing damaged peripheral nerve is an urgent demand worldwide, but it is also a formidable clinical challenge. In the last decade, with the rapid development of manufacture technologies, 3D printing and bioprinting have been becoming remarkable stars in the field of neural engineering. In this review, we explore that the biomaterial inks (hydrogels, thermoplastic, and thermoset polyesters and composite) and bioinks have been selected for 3D printing and bioprinting of peripheral nerve conduits. This review covers 3D manufacturing technologies, including extrusion printing, inkjet printing, stereolithography, and bioprinting with inclusion of cells, bioactive molecules, and drugs. Finally, an outlook on the future directions of 3D printing and 4D printing in customizable nerve therapies is presented. Full article
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