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The Current Versatility of Polyurethane Three-Dimensional Printing for Biomedical Applications
Michelle Griffin1,2,3, Nathan Castro4, Onur Bas4
1Charles Wolfson Centre for Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Tissue Engineering. Part B, Reviews
|February 25, 2020
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) printing enables the creation of custom polyurethane (PU) implants for reconstructive surgery. These biocompatible, 3D printed PU scaffolds show promise for tissue integration and tailored medical device applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Medical Device Engineering
Background:
- Reconstructive surgery often requires synthetic materials for tissue defect repair when autologous tissue is insufficient.
- Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers advanced capabilities for fabricating complex implants with patient-specific geometries.
- Synthetic polymers are advantageous for biomedical applications due to their tunable mechanical and chemical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of advancements in 3D printable polyurethane (PU)-based materials for biomedical applications.
- To summarize the synthesis and chemical structure of PUs relevant to their processing into medical devices via additive manufacturing.
- To highlight the potential of 3D printed PU scaffolds in reconstructive surgery and medical implants.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on 3D printable PU materials and their synthesis.
- Exploration of various 3D printing techniques applicable to polyurethanes, including fused filament fabrication, bioplotting, and stereolithography.
- Analysis of the properties and performance of 3D printed PU scaffolds in biomedical contexts.
Main Results:
- Polyurethanes (PUs) exhibit favorable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and hemocompatibility, making them suitable for medical implants.
- 3D printing techniques allow for the precise fabrication of complex PU implants with tailored internal architectures.
- In vivo studies indicate good cell viability and tissue integration with 3D printed PU scaffolds.
Conclusions:
- 3D printable PU materials offer a versatile solution for creating customized implants in reconstructive surgery.
- Polyurethanes can be processed using additive manufacturing to meet specific anatomical, mechanical, and biological requirements.
- Further research is needed to address current limitations in PU 3D printing for broader biomedical adoption.
