3D printing prostheses using additive manufacturing and regenerative engineering

Additive manufacturing is a manufacturing process utilized to make prosthetics. It offers an affordable means to create custom-made prostheses. Yet, the number of studies exploring the domain of 3D printing and bioprinting of prosthetics remains limited. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of the current research in additive manufacturing to produce prosthetic limbs, bionic eyes, temporomandibular joints (TMJ), cardiac valves, and skin. We concluded that the research gap lies in the long-term, periodic assessment of 3D-printed prosthetic limbs for durability. 3D-printed prosthetic sockets’ reinforcement materials are a particularly underexplored topic and the main shortcoming of 3D-printed prostheses is their failure under shear stresses. In bioprinting, research must focus on developing tissue-specific bioinks and hydrogels to overcome their existing scarcity. Bioprinting techniques like extrusion, inkjet, and laser-assisted bioprinting subject bioinks to conditions of high temperature and pressure. Bioinks must withstand the printing process and simultaneously retain their rheological properties and cell viability. Moreover, some bioprinting techniques are still quite expensive. However, 3D printing and bioprinting offer the prospect of customization to the patient’s unique anatomy, increasing the wear time of prostheses and offering unique benefits like improved tissue regeneration and adaptability to changing patient anatomy. 3D printing specifically reduces costs, and production time and improves accessibility in war-stricken areas with more amputees.