Additive Manufacturing of Polymeric Bioresorbable Stents: A Mechanical Performance Perspective

The integration of biomaterials and additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the design, manufacturing, and clinical applications of permanent and bioresorbable implants. AM offers design flexibility and potential for mass customization but poses challenges for scalable manufacturing. Unlike other high-commodity implantable devices that are already clinically approved, stent AM is still in the early phases of research and development. Here, following the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of Abbott's Esprit stent for below-the-knee use, we examine the current prospects for AM of polymeric stents, specifically focusing on polymeric bioresorbable stent geometry, material composition and mechanical properties, and surface quality, predominantly intended for cardiovascular applications. The advancement of bioresorbable polymeric stents is shown through a comparison with metallic stents commonly used in clinical practice. The different AM techniques used for stent fabrication and the level of currently fabricated bioresorbable stents are reviewed. A road map for translating AM stents from the research laboratory to the clinic is proposed.