Soft solutions for complex problems: 3D-printed silicone in healthcare

Additive manufacturing of silicone holds great promise in revolutionising the field of medicine and medical science. Due to its inertness and unique properties such as elasticity and durability, silicone is widely used in medical applications such as medical devices and biomedical engineering. Additive manufacturing (AM)/3D Printing could expand the potential of silicone even further and allow for the precise & fast fabrication of complex silicone structures. However, development of additive manufacturing (AM) systems for processing silicone involves substantial challenges, due to its high viscosity, low elastic modulus, and the need for support structures during printing. Nonetheless, recent advancements in additive manufacturing techniques enabled 3D printing of silicone possible, establishing it as a rapidly growing and exciting field in biomedical research. Recent research shows that silicone 3D printing can be successfully utilised for the manufacture of sensors, wearable devices, anatomical models, implants, microfluidic devices, and more. This review provides a thorough analysis of the current state of silicone 3D printing for medical applications, highlighting its limitations as well as the promising opportunities it offers for future advancements.