3D‐Printable Antimicrobial Composite Resins

Abstract

3D printing is seen as a game‐changing manufacturing process in many domains, including general medicine and dentistry, but the integration of more complex functions into 3D‐printed materials remains lacking. Here, it is expanded on the repertoire of 3D‐printable materials to include antimicrobial polymer resins, which are essential for development of medical devices due to the high incidence of biomaterial‐associated infections. Monomers containing antimicrobial, positively charged quaternary ammonium groups with an appended alkyl chain are either directly copolymerized with conventional diurethanedimethacrylate/glycerol dimethacrylate (UDMA/GDMA) resin components by photocuring or prepolymerized as a linear chain for incorporation into a semi‐interpenetrating polymer network by light‐induced polymerization. For both strategies, dental 3D‐printed objects fabricated by a stereolithography process kill bacteria on contact when positively charged quaternary ammonium groups are incorporated into the photocurable UDMA/GDMA resins. Leaching of quaternary ammonium monomers copolymerized with UDMA/GDMA resins is limited and without biological consequences within 4–6 d, while biological consequences could be confined to 1 d when prepolymerized quaternary ammonium group containing chains are incorporated in a semi‐interpenetrating polymer network. Routine clinical handling and mechanical properties of the pristine polymer matrix are maintained upon incorporation of quaternary ammonium groups, qualifying the antimicrobially functionalized, 3D‐printable composite resins for clinical use.

Antimicrobial Thiol–ene–acrylate Photosensitive Resins for DLP 3D Printing

“…Ren et al . successfully prepared an antimicrobial 3D printable photosensitive resin with contact‐killing abilities for the first time. Afterward, Li et al .…”

“…Thus, it is especially necessary to design and develop new photocurable resins with antibacterial properties for 3D printing. Ren et al (21) successfully prepared an antimicrobial 3D printable photosensitive resin with contact-killing abilities for the first time. Afterward, Li et al (22) developed an antibacterial resin containing Ag-carrying halloysite nanotubes (Ag-HNT) for 3D printing.…”

3D printing of functional anatomical insoles

“…This is achieved by conferring antimicrobial properties on the original material ( Figure 7) with the aim of avoiding microorganism proliferation, which apart from aesthetical issues, like bad odour, can also have health effects. [18] proposed two general strategies to produce antimicrobial resins to be used as a base material for 3D printing. [19] investigated the use of polymer blends able to release drugs in a controlled and adjustable way that are printable by FDM.…”

Additive manufacturing of dental polymers: An overview on processes, materials and applications

“…The printed objects had almost identical mechanical properties as objects produced without the addition of antimicrobial monomers. The antimicrobial effect is based on contact inhibition of the bacteria and not on the release of an antimicrobial agent 52) . Steinhaus et al investigated the 3DP with PMMA as powder and a liquid binder consisting of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and phenylethylene (styrene).…”