Advances in Additive Manufacturing Technologies in the Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sectors

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in 3D-printable biomaterials and additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have enabled numerous novel applications in the medical and healthcare sectors, especially in the clinical, pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Their most popular applications include the bioprinting of scaffolds, tissues and organs; patient-specific anatomical models and surgical guides; custom implants; and AR/VR in healthcare. The emergence of novel biodegradable and biocompatible materials that mimic native cells and tissues has enabled more controlled and efficient bioprinting of complex scaffolds with intricate vasculature. The customizability, greater degree of spatial control and accurate low-volume dispensability of 3D printing systems have enabled the development of numerous AM-based drug delivery systems, leading to tremendous breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical sector. With the increased affordability and wider availability of this technology, point-of-care facilities have increasingly adopted it for use in patient-specific 3D model production.

Although 3D printing is now widely used in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, there still exist numerous challenges with respect to selected material availability, printing technology defiance, QA/QC, regulations and safety. The aim of this Special Issue is to spotlight original research papers and review articles that focus on the development of novel biomaterials/polymers for use with various 3D printing technologies in clinical, pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. This Special Issue also aims to assemble worldwide expert investigations on novel technological advancements in AM, and to highlight its newly emerging biomedical applications.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Novel functional biomaterials for bioprinting;
• The bioprinting of scaffolds, tissues and organs;
• 3D-printed bioactive materials for drug-delivery applications;
• 3D-printed biomedical and surgical devices;
• 3D-printed anatomical models for patient/trainee education and perioperative planning;
• 3D-printed patient-specific surgical guides and custom implants;
• CAD/CAM and AR/VR in surgical planning.

Dr. Karthik K. Tappa
Dr. Udayabhanu Jammalamadaka
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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