Harnessing the Potential of Natural Composites in Biomedical 3D Printing

• Published in: Materials
• Main Author: Shahar F.S.; Sultan M.T.H.; Grzejda R.; Łukaszewicz A.; Oksiuta Z.; Krishnamoorthy R.R.
• Format: Review
• Language: English
• Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85213224663&doi=10.3390%2fma17246045&partnerID=40&md5=81629207a7c07047a4aba03d485d2140

Natural composites are emerging as promising alternative materials for 3D printing in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, sustainability, and unique mechanical properties. The use of natural composites offers several advantages, including reduced environmental impact, enhanced biodegradability, and improved tissue compatibility. These materials can be processed into filaments or resins suitable for various 3D printing techniques, such as fused deposition modeling (FDM). Natural composites also exhibit inherent antibacterial properties, making them particularly suitable for applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, and biomedical implants. This review explores the potential of utilizing natural composites in additive manufacturing for biomedical purposes, discussing the historical development of 3D printing techniques; the types of manufacturing methods; and the optimization of material compatibility, printability, and mechanical properties to fully realize the potential of using natural fibers in 3D printing for biomedical applications. © 2024 by the authors.