ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

The Current Pharmaceutical Applications and Future Directions of 3D Printing

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 5695

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

3D printing rapidly improves current treatment modalities, including customized medical devices and ‘personalized medical solutions.’ As improvements in 3D printers and a growing portfolio of new materials develop, this will be leveraged to expand the impact and acceptance of 3D printed bioactive medical devices. 3D printing’s ability to make optimized and customized parts is precise and can facilitate new and novel biomedical and clinical applications. Fused depositional modeling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing technique that uses readily moldable materials such as thermopolymers. The ability to produce 3D printer filaments that incorporate a range of additives drives the innovation in FDM printing. Stereolithography is a photopolymerization-based 3D printing technology that involves the computer-driven assembly of constructs using microscale features. A computer model controls the spatial irradiation of liquid resin in producing the designed construct. Like thermopolymers in FDM, the liquid resin can also be modified with various additives that enhance durability, toughness and flexibility, rapid curing potential, self-healing ability, processability, and high-temperature stability. For example, 3D printing can print pills with complex structures that control the release rate, print pills on demand, combinatorial drug assemblies, and deliver a more accurate dosage. Fabrication methods must continue to evolve to achieve their promise of new and novel biomedical treatments.

This special issue will focus on advances in 3D printing bioactive medical devices, emphasizing functionalization directed towards specific diseases and disorders. Specifically, papers that address medical applications of 3D printing biomaterials and technologies, 3D printed biomaterials, the state-of-the-art developments in drug formulation.

Prof. Dr. David Mills
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
  • personalized medical
  • readily moldable materials
  • medical devices

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

26 pages, 4248 KiB  
Article
A 3D-Printed Biomaterial Scaffold Reinforced with Inorganic Fillers for Bone Tissue Engineering: In Vitro Assessment and In Vivo Animal Studies
by Mduduzi N. Sithole, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. Du Toit, Kennedy H. Erlwanger, Philemon N. Ubanako and Yahya E. Choonara
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7611; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087611 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3150
Abstract
This research aimed to substantiate the potential practicality of utilizing a matrix-like platform, a novel 3D-printed biomaterial scaffold, to enhance and guide host cells’ growth for bone tissue regeneration. The 3D biomaterial scaffold was successfully printed using a 3D Bioplotter® (EnvisionTEC, GmBH) [...] Read more.
This research aimed to substantiate the potential practicality of utilizing a matrix-like platform, a novel 3D-printed biomaterial scaffold, to enhance and guide host cells’ growth for bone tissue regeneration. The 3D biomaterial scaffold was successfully printed using a 3D Bioplotter® (EnvisionTEC, GmBH) and characterized. Osteoblast-like MG63 cells were utilized to culture the novel printed scaffold over a period of 1, 3, and 7 days. Cell adhesion and surface morphology were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy, while cell viability was determined using MTS assay and cell proliferation was evaluated using a Leica microsystem (Leica MZ10 F). The 3D-printed biomaterial scaffold exhibited essential biomineral trace elements that are significant for biological bone (e.g., Ca-P) and were confirmed through energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The microscopy analyses revealed that the osteoblast-like MG63 cells were attached to the printed scaffold surface. The viability of cultured cells on the control and printed scaffold increased over time (p < 0.05); however, on respective days (1, 3, and 7 days), the viability of cultured cells between the two groups was not significantly different (p > 0.05). The protein (human BMP-7, also known as growth factor) was successfully attached to the surface of the 3D-printed biomaterial scaffold as an initiator of osteogenesis in the site of the induced bone defect. An in vivo study was conducted to substantiate if the novel printed scaffold properties were engineered adequately to mimic the bone regeneration cascade using an induced rabbit critical-sized nasal bone defect. The novel printed scaffold provided a potential pro-regenerative platform, rich in mechanical, topographical, and biological cues to guide and activate host cells toward functional regeneration. The histological studies revealed that there was progress in new bone formation, especially at week 8 of the study, in all induced bone defects. In conclusion, the protein (human BMP-7)-embedded scaffolds showed higher regenerative bone formation potential (week 8 complete) compared to the scaffolds without protein (e.g., growth factor; BMP-7) and the control (empty defect). At 8 weeks postimplantation, protein (BMP-7) significantly promoted osteogenesis as compared to other groups. The scaffold underwent gradual degradation and replacement by new bones at 8 weeks in most defects. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3480 KiB  
Article
Biocompatibility and Biological Performance of Additive-Manufactured Bioabsorbable Iron-Based Porous Interference Screws in a Rabbit Model: A 1-Year Observational Study
by Chien-Cheng Tai, Yu-Min Huang, Chen-Kun Liaw, Kuo-Yi Yang, Chun-Hsien Ma, Shin-I Huang, Chih-Chieh Huang, Pei-I Tsai, Hsin-Hsin Shen, Jui-Sheng Sun and Chih-Yu Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(23), 14626; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232314626 - 23 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1930
Abstract
This study evaluated the mid-term (12-month) biomechanical, biocompatibility, and biological performance of additive-manufactured bioabsorbable iron-based interference screws (ISs). Two bioabsorbable iron IS types—manufactured using pure iron powder (iron_IS) and using pure iron powder with 0.2 wt% tricalcium phosphate (TCP_IS)—were compared with conventional metallic [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the mid-term (12-month) biomechanical, biocompatibility, and biological performance of additive-manufactured bioabsorbable iron-based interference screws (ISs). Two bioabsorbable iron IS types—manufactured using pure iron powder (iron_IS) and using pure iron powder with 0.2 wt% tricalcium phosphate (TCP_IS)—were compared with conventional metallic IS (control) using in vitro biocompatibility and degradation analyses and an in vivo animal study. The in vitro ultimate failure strength was significantly higher for iron_IS and TCP_IS than for control ISs at 3 months post-operatively; however, the difference between groups were nonsignificant thereafter. Moreover, at 3 months after implantation, iron_IS and TCP_IS increased bone volume fraction, bone surface area fraction, and percent intersection surface; the changes thereafter were nonsignificant. Iron_IS and TCP_IS demonstrated degradation over time with increased implant surface, decreased implant volume, and structure thickness; nevertheless, the analyses of visceral organs and biochemistry demonstrated normal results, except for time-dependent iron deposition in the spleen. Therefore, compared with conventional ISs, bioabsorbable iron-based ISs exhibit higher initial mechanical strength. Although iron-based ISs demonstrate high biocompatibility 12 months after implantation, their corrosive iron products may accumulate in the spleen. Because they demonstrate mechanical superiority along with considerable absorption capability after implantation, iron-based ISs may have potential applications in implantable medical-device development in the future. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop