Three-Dimensional Printing Technology in Medical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) or additive manufacturing is a ground-breaking innovation technology encompassing a wide range of production processes. It can generate physical devices automatically based on computational models.  Those processes are based on deposition, normally layer-by-layer, using materials (biomaterials) from polymers to metals, ceramics, and composites. Beyond conventional biomaterials, 3DP includes materials such as cells, spheroids, growth factors, macromolecules, etc., as a tentative to print leaving tissues, potentially addressing the organ transplant shortage. Three-dimensional printing has rapidly evolved from a novel concept to a crucial tool in medical practice over the last 20 years. It enables the creation of highly precise, patient-specific models, implants, and devices. Surgeons now rely on 3D-printed anatomical models to plan complex procedures and enhance their understanding of patient-specific anatomy. This technology has also ushered in a new era of customized implants and prosthetics, resulting in improved patient comfort and outcomes. Also, the advances of 3DP have allowed us to model the morphology of tissues more closely through scaffolds, allowing us to better understand the tissue–scaffold interaction, as well as the biodegradative processes that can occur during the regenerative stage.

Beyond surgical applications, 3D printing has paved the way for personalized drug delivery systems, allowing for tailored medication formulations. Bioprinting, a variant of 3D printing, holds immense promise for tissue engineering and the creation of functional human tissues and organs. Challenges like regulation and cost-effectiveness must be overcome, and ongoing research and development promises to push the boundaries of what is achievable with 3D printing in medicine. As this technology continues to mature, it is poised to make a profound impact on patient care, research, and medical education.

This Special Issue, “Three-Dimensional Printing Technology in Medical Applications”,  gathers original articles on wide areas in relation to 3DP, including but not limited to processes and processing, process planning, materials (biomaterials), post-processing, hardware and software, devices, computer simulation, imaging, tissue engineering, bioprinting, biofabrication, printed medicine, regulatory issues, ethics, applications, and other topics of interest.

Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Alvarenga Rezende
Dr. Juliana Kelmy Macário Barboza Daguano
Prof. Dr. Marcos Antonio Sabino
Dr. Jorge Vicente Lopes Da Silva
Guest Editors

* Dr. Jorge Vicente Lopes Da Silva, our cherished colleague and friend, passed away in June 2024 after struggling with a serious disease. He was one of the pioneers of additive manufacturing and biofabrication in Brazil and Latin America and was a worldwide respected scientist. He will be deeply missed.

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. Journal of Functional Biomaterials 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 2700 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.

• additive manufacturing
• 3D printing
• biomaterials
• biomodeling
• medical devices
• surgical planning
• biofabrication
• bioprinting
• scaffolds
• bioink
• printed medicine