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Biomimetics
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Advancements in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Applications
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Advancements in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Applications

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetic Design, Constructions and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 4667

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francis T. Omigbodun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
Interests: bioengineering; tissue engineering; 3D printing; bone implant; mechanical engineering; additive manufacturing; finite element analysis; computational fluid dynamics; numerical simulation; 3D CAD modelling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our Special Issue on “Advancements in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Applications” of Biomimetics. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest developments, innovations, and applications of 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies in the field of orthopedics.

Introduction: The field of orthopedic applications has been significantly transformed by the advent of 3D printing and additive manufacturing. These technologies have enabled the creation of customized implants, prosthetics, and surgical tools with unprecedented precision and functionality. The integration of biomimetic principles has further enhanced the performance and biocompatibility of these medical devices.

Aim: This Special Issue aims to gather high-quality research articles and reviews that address the advancements in 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies for orthopedic applications. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the development of new materials, design optimization, clinical applications, and the integration of digital and computational tools.

Themes: We welcome submissions that cover a broad range of topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Customization of orthopedic implants and prosthetics;
  • Biomimetic design principles in 3D printing;
  • Novel materials for additive manufacturing in orthopedics;
  • Advances in surgical tools and guides;
  • Clinical case studies and applications;
  • Computational modeling and simulation for design and fabrication.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Francis T. Omigbodun
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • 3D printing
  • additive manufacturing
  • orthopedic applications
  • biomimetic design
  • customized implants
  • prosthetics
  • surgical tools
  • novel materials
  • clinical applications
  • computational modeling

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 6360 KiB  
Article
The Use of Platelet-Rich Fibrin-Coated Three-Dimensionally (3D) Printed Scaffolds in Salvage of Complex Hindfoot Cases
by Ken Meng Tai, Justin Mooteeram and Anand Pillai
Biomimetics 2025, 10(5), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10050269 - 27 Apr 2025
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Background: Complex hindfoot pathologies involving critical-sized bone defects of the talus are difficult to manage. The current management involves arthrodesis and bone grafting with the defective talus, which have limitations in restoring structural integrity and functional goals. The advancement of 3D-printed scaffolds has [...] Read more.
Background: Complex hindfoot pathologies involving critical-sized bone defects of the talus are difficult to manage. The current management involves arthrodesis and bone grafting with the defective talus, which have limitations in restoring structural integrity and functional goals. The advancement of 3D-printed scaffolds has opened new avenues to address such complex hindfoot pathologies, which may potentially improve treatment outcomes. The addition of platelet-rich fibrin further enhances healing potential. Method: This is a retrospective study involving six patients with severe talar bone loss secondary to osteomyelitis or avascular necrosis, where 3D-printed scaffolds coated with PRF were implemented in salvage surgery performed from 2023 to 2024. We intended to investigate the clinical outcomes in terms of healing time and union rate. Additionally, we evaluated the degree of deformity corrections and the patients’ clinical outcomes. Results: This study reports six complex reconstructions which achieved CT-confirmed union after a mean duration of 20.2 weeks. All patients were able to ambulate with full weight bearing after an average duration of 23.3 weeks. The patients demonstrated improved radiological parameters, VAS scores from 7.5 ± 1.4 points to 2.3 ± 1.2, and functional scores in all domains for AOFAS, FFI and SF-36. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the benefits of PRF-coated 3D-printed scaffolds in managing complex hindfoot cases, especially in the presence of significant bony defects. This modality has the potential to achieve a good union rate, near-anatomical correction and good functional outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Applications)
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30 pages, 13097 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Degradation Control of Poly(Lactic) Acid/Hydroxyapatite/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites for Advanced Bone Tissue Engineering Application
by Francis T. Omigbodun and Bankole I. Oladapo
Biomimetics 2024, 9(11), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9110651 - 23 Oct 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1887
Abstract
This study explores the enhancement of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix using calcium hydroxyapatite (cHAP) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for developing composite scaffolds aimed at bone regeneration applications. The PLA composites were fabricated through solvent evaporation and melt extrusion and characterized by various [...] Read more.
This study explores the enhancement of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) matrix using calcium hydroxyapatite (cHAP) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for developing composite scaffolds aimed at bone regeneration applications. The PLA composites were fabricated through solvent evaporation and melt extrusion and characterized by various techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mechanical testing. The incorporation of cHAP and rGO significantly improved the thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of the PLA matrix. Mechanical testing revealed that adding 10% cHAP and varying amounts of rGO (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%) enhanced tensile and compressive strengths, with the highest improvements observed at 0.5% rGO content. Thermal analysis showed increased thermal stability with higher degradation temperatures for the composites. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed the effective integration of cHAP and rGO into the PLA matrix with characteristic peaks of the fillers identified in the composite spectra. In vitro, degraded action tests in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 over 12 months indicated that composites with higher rGO content exhibited lower mass loss and better mechanical stability. Furthermore, finite element analysis (FEA) simulations were performed to validate the experimental results, demonstrating a strong correlation between simulated and experimental compressive strengths. This novel approach demonstrates the potential of PLA/cHAP/rGO composites in creating effective and biocompatible scaffolds for tissue engineering, providing a comprehensive analysis of the synergistic effects of cHAP and rGO on the PLA matrix and offering a promising material for bone regeneration applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Applications)
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23 pages, 5284 KiB  
Article
Leveraging Machine Learning for Optimized Mechanical Properties and 3D Printing of PLA/cHAP for Bone Implant
by Francis T. Omigbodun, Norman Osa-Uwagboe, Amadi Gabriel Udu and Bankole I. Oladapo
Biomimetics 2024, 9(10), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9100587 - 27 Sep 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2047
Abstract
This study explores the fabrication and characterisation of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds reinforced with calcium hydroxyapatite (cHAP) for bone tissue engineering applications. By varying the cHAP content, we aimed to enhance PLA scaffolds’ mechanical and thermal properties, making them suitable for load-bearing [...] Read more.
This study explores the fabrication and characterisation of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds reinforced with calcium hydroxyapatite (cHAP) for bone tissue engineering applications. By varying the cHAP content, we aimed to enhance PLA scaffolds’ mechanical and thermal properties, making them suitable for load-bearing biomedical applications. The results indicate that increasing cHAP content improves the tensile and compressive strength of the scaffolds, although it also increases brittleness. Notably, incorporating cHAP at 7.5% and 10% significantly enhances thermal stability and mechanical performance, with properties comparable to or exceeding those of human cancellous bone. Furthermore, this study integrates machine learning techniques to predict the mechanical properties of these composites, employing algorithms such as XGBoost and AdaBoost. The models demonstrated high predictive accuracy, with R2 scores of 0.9173 and 0.8772 for compressive and tensile strength, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of using data-driven approaches to optimise material properties autonomously, offering significant implications for developing custom-tailored scaffolds in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The study underscores the promise of PLA/cHAP composites as viable candidates for advanced biomedical applications, particularly in creating patient-specific implants with improved mechanical and thermal characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing for Orthopedic Applications)
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