Antimicrobial and Biodegradable 3D Printed Scaffolds for Orthopedic Infections

In bone tissue engineering, the performance of scaffolds underpins the success of the healing of bone. Microbial infection is the most challenging issue for orthopedists. The application of scaffolds for healing bone defects is prone to microbial infection. To address this challenge, scaffolds with a desirable shape and significant mechanical, physical, and biological characteristics are crucial. 3D printing of antibacterial scaffolds with suitable mechanical strength and excellent biocompatibility is an appealing strategy to surmount issues of microbial infection. The spectacular progress in developing antimicrobial scaffolds, along with beneficial mechanical and biological properties, has sparked further research for possible clinical applications. Herein, the significance of antibacterial scaffolds designed by 3D, 4D, and 5D printing technologies for bone tissue engineering is critically investigated. Materials such as antibiotics, polymers, peptides, graphene, metals/ceramics/glass, and antibacterial coatings are used to impart the antimicrobial features for the 3D scaffolds. Polymeric or metallic biodegradable and antibacterial 3D-printed scaffolds in orthopedics disclose exceptional mechanical and degradation behavior, biocompatibility, osteogenesis, and long-term antibacterial efficiency. The commercialization aspect of antibacterial 3D-printed scaffolds and technical challenges are also discussed briefly. Finally, the discussion on the unmet demands and prevailing challenges for ideal scaffold materials for fighting against bone infections is included along with a highlight of emerging strategies in this field.