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. 2021 Jan 15:258:123943.
doi: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2020.123943. Epub 2020 Oct 22.

Review on 3D printing: Fight against COVID-19

Bankole I Oladapo  1 , Sikiru O Ismail  2 , Temitope D Afolalu  3 , David B Olawade  4 , Mohsen Zahedi  5
Affiliations

Review on 3D printing: Fight against COVID-19

Bankole I Oladapo et al. Mater Chem Phys. .

Abstract

The outbreak of coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its pandemic effects have created a demand for essential medical equipment. To date, there are no specific, clinically significant licensed drugs and vaccines available for COVID-19. Hence, mapping out COVID-19 problems and preventing the spread with relevant technology are very urgent. This study is a review of the work done till October, 2020 on solving COVID-19 with 3D printing. Many patients who need to be hospitalized because of COVID-19 can only survive on bio-macromolecules antiviral respiratory assistance and other medical devices. A bio-cellular face shield with relative comfortability made of bio-macromolecules polymerized polyvinyl chloride (BPVC) and other biomaterials are produced with 3D printers. Summarily, it was evident from this review study that additive manufacturing (AM) is a proffered technology for efficient production of an improved bio-macromolecules capable of significant COVID-19 test and personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the effect of COVID-19 on the world economy. Innovative AM applications can play an essential role to combat invisible killers (COVID-19) and its hydra-headed pandemic effects on humans, economics and society.

Keywords: Additive manufacturing/3D printing; COVID-19 pandemic; Health; Medical devices; PPE.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing for conflict of interest, financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Step description of the effect of additive manufacturing (AM) on COVID-19.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Geographic distribution of a cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per one hundred population, worldwide, as of September 14, 2020 for the 14-day interval [24,25].
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Schematic process of the need, design and 3D printing of PPE to tackle the shortage of medical device during COVID-19 pandemic.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The different 3D-printed respiratory antibacterial bio-cellulose masks that allow inflow and out of oxygen during COVID-19: (a) oxygen inflow for respiration, (b) nose and eyes biomaterial mask, (c,d) respiratory mask with an eye, (e) micropore nose antibacterial bio-cellulose mask and (f) lateral nose mask [[17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23]].
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
a Cumulative number of confirmed deaths versus the number of days in continents, modified from Our World in Data chart points to establish the importance of face masks and lockdown mechanisms [66,67].
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Lattice structures of the 3D-printed antibacterial bio-cellulose swabs were produced for the COVID-19 test [[34], [35], [36], [37], [38]].
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
3D printing of respiratory face shield using double-sided tape, showing the (a) computer-aided design (CAD) of Face shield holder and shield, (b) 3D printing process, (c) finished product of the shield holder and (d) complete face shield holder with films.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
A respirator valve made of 3D printing, showing (a) 3D printing of a respiratory face mask, (b) CAD model and 3D-printed respirator valve and (c) different designed, coding and 3D-printed door opener.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
3D-printed ventilator and respiratory system in Oxford University [[30], [31], [32], [33]].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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