3D printing for clinical application in otorhinolaryngology

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a promising technology that can use a patient's image data to create complex and personalized constructs precisely. It has made great progress over the past few decades and has been widely used in medicine including medical modeling, surgical planning, medical education and training, prosthesis and implants. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a powerful tool that has the potential to fabricate bioengineered constructs of the desired shape layer-by-layer using computer-aided deposition of living cells and biomaterials. Advances in 3D printed implants and future tissue-engineered constructs will bring great progress to the field of otolaryngology. By integrating 3D printing into tissue engineering and materials, it may be possible for otolaryngologists to implant 3D printed functional grafts into patients for reconstruction of a variety of tissue defects in the foreseeable future. In this review, we will introduce the current state of 3D printing technology and highlight the applications of 3D printed prosthesis and implants, 3D printing technology combined with tissue engineering and future directions of bioprinting in the field of otolaryngology.

3D Bioprinting Strategies for the Regeneration of Functional Tubular Tissues and Organs

“…Such cases are difficult to treat clinically [143,144]. Tissue engineering is an appropriate approach to solve these problems; in addition, recent advances in 3D bioprinting technology have enabled the production of more sophisticated and systematic artificial structures (Table 4) [145,146]. Daisuke Taniguchi et al developed an artificial trachea using kenzan method bioprinting [147].…”

Discussion paper on proposed new regulatory changes on 3D technology: a surgical perspective

“…These include applications that are implanted within a patient's body and risk long‐term complications either as a structural skeletal support or due to biological interaction with human tissues. Although titanium implants form the bulk of current applications, future applications include bioprintable solutions, that is, 3D printed biological stem cell loaded scaffolds either in gel or solid formulations. Future applications may also include the combination of 3D printing and nanoscience applications such as nanorobots which maybe fixed in the body or mobile, or even have autonomous properties.…”

Biofabrikation – neue Ansätze für den artifiziellen Gewebeersatz

“…U.a. konnten im Bereich der Otorhinolaryngologie schon Erfolge in der klinischen Anwen dung der Kombination von Tissue Engineering und Biofabrikation verzeichnet werden [17]. Jedoch ist die Umsetzung in größere und klinisch relevante Dimensionen kompliziert [18,19] und hat bisher mit wenigen Ausnahmen [20] noch keinen dauerhaften Einzug in klinische Behandlungskonzepte gefunden.…”