Light-Assisted 3D-Printed Hydrogels for Antibacterial Applications

Light-assisted 3D printing technology, which uses a light source to solidify a photopolymerizable prepolymer solution, has shown great potential in the development of antibacterial hydrogels with high-resolution, specific features and functionalities. 3D-printed hydrogels with customized structures and antibacterial functions are widely used in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, wound healing, and implants to advance the modeling and treatment of diseases. In the current review, an overview of light-assisted 3D printing technologies is first provided for the development of antibacterial hydrogels. Novel strategies involving the integration of inorganic nanomaterials, antibiotics, and functional polymers into 3D-printed hydrogels for the enhancement of antibacterial effects are then discussed. Finally, the perspective of advanced design using artificial intelligence and machine learning is proposed, providing a comprehensive yet succinct examination of 3D-printed hydrogels for antibacterial purposes.