Fused Deposition Modelling as a Potential Tool for Antimicrobial Dialysis Catheters Manufacturing: New Trends vs. Conventional Approaches

Abstract

The rising rate of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ineffective treatment methods for catheter-associated infections in dialysis patients has led to the need for a novel approach to the manufacturing of catheters. The current process requires moulding, which is time consuming, and coated catheters used currently increase the risk of bacterial resistance, toxicity, and added expense. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has gained a lot of attention in recent years and offers the opportunity to rapidly manufacture catheters, matched to patients through imaging and at a lower cost. Fused deposition modelling (FDM) in particular allows thermoplastic polymers to be printed into the desired devices from a model made using computer aided design (CAD). Limitations to FDM include the small range of thermoplastic polymers that are compatible with this form of printing and the high degradation temperature required for drugs to be extruded with the polymer. Hot-melt extrusion (HME) allows the potential for antimicrobial drugs to be added to the polymer to create catheters with antimicrobial activity, therefore being able to overcome the issue of increased rates of infection. This review will cover the area of dialysis and catheter-related infections, current manufacturing processes of catheters and methods to prevent infection, limitations of current processes of catheter manufacture, future directions into the manufacture of catheters, and how drugs can be incorporated into the polymers to help prevent infection.

Fused Deposition Modeling as an Effective Tool for Anti-Infective Dialysis Catheter Fabrication

“…One potential application of 3D-printing is the manufacture of medical devices such as catheters, 22 as it opens up the potential for creating patient matched devices specific to their anatomy. This would allow the potential for on demand patient matched devices to be created in hospital settings.…”

3D Printing of Drug-Loaded Thermoplastic Polyurethane Meshes: A Potential Material for Soft Tissue Reinforcement in Vaginal Surgery

“…A potential technology to produce the aforementioned meshes is 3D printing. This technology allows clinicians to prepare devices adapted to patient's anatomy and requirements [14][15][16][17]. Furthermore, a wide range of materials can be used for 3D printing applications.…”

“…To combine the polymers with drugs within the filament hot melt extrusion (HME) is needed. For this purpose, a drug substance and the selected polymer are melted inside a rotating screw to mix them and subsequently extrude them to form a filament [15]. This filament will be subsequently used for FDM applications.…”

Additive Manufacturing Can Assist in the Fight Against COVID-19 and Other Pandemics and Impact on the Global Supply Chain

“…1), and permits the manufacturing of variety of items in a cost-effective and fast approach. 4 There are several 3DP technologies in existence, including fused deposition modeling (FDM), which is a form of material extrusion, and is by far the most common due to its ease of use, low cost, and broad range of material choice. 5 Owing to the versatility, 3DP has been used by many researchers to develop new prototypes.…”

“…Among all the applications, 3DP has been recently used for the manufacture of a range of drug delivery systems and medical devices. 4,6,7 Despite these recent developments, 3DP is not a new technique as the first patent describing this technology was filled in the late 80s. 8 However, the field of 3DP experienced a huge increase in popularity during the past 15 years due to the ''democratization'' of this technology.…”