Applications of 3D printing in aging

Abstract

Aging is inevitable, and how to age healthily is a key concern. Additive manufacturing offers many solutions to this problem. In this paper, we first briefly introduce various 3D printing technologies commonly used in the biomedical field, particularly in aging research and aging care. Next, we closely examine aging-related health conditions of nervous system, musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, and digestive system with a focus on the application of 3D printing in these fields, including the creation of in vitro models and implants, production of drugs and drug delivery systems, and fabrication of rehabilitation and assistive medical devices. Finally, the opportunities, challenges, and prospects of 3D printing in the field of aging are discussed.

Keywords: 3D-printing; Aging; Biomaterials; Disease model; Regenerative medicine, Aging care.

Figure 1.

Overview of additive manufacturing for aging from both technology and application perspectives.

Figure 2.

(A) A brain-like structure made of 3D printing; the cells develop and differentiate in a certain layer, where each hue indicates a layer^[13]. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier, Copyright © 2015, Elsevier. (B) 3D nMTC produced by printing with hNSC-loaded Al-CMC-Ag bioink using DIW. High expression of TUJ1 and low expression of SOX2 followed the induction of differentiation^[79]. Reproduced with permission from John Wiley and Sons, Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons. (C) Fabrication process and structural construction of 2PP-printed biodegradable soft spiral microswimmers^[81]. Reproduced with permission from John Wiley and Sons, Copyright © 2020, John Wiley and Sons. (D) 3D printing-based personalized drug customization strategies^[82]. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier, Copyright ©2022, Elsevier.

Figure 3.

(A) Building the rabbit femur’s cortical defect model and implanting a 3D-printed scaffold. (B) Pictures of a rabbit femur taken after surgery at 1, 3, and 6 months. Black arrows point to the bone defect area^[105]. Reproduced with permission from IOP Publishing, Copyright © 2021, IOP Publishing. (C) Printing gyroid structures bone supports by SLA^[106]. Reproduced with permission from John Wiley and Sons, Copyright © 2021, John Wiley and Sons. (D) Preparation of macroporous scaffolds for PTMC/HA by SLA^[107]. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier, Copyright © 2017, Elsevier. (E) 3D-printed PCL networks enhance cECM-functionalized bioink hybrid constructs and cell viability of MSCs^[117]. Reproduced with permission from John Wiley and Sons, Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons. (F) Spatial structure and SEM images of 3D-printed PEGDA-GelMA-CSMA hydrogel scaffolds^[118]. Reproduced under Creative Commons license.

Figure 4.

(A) Multiangle photographs of 3D-printed structures of three different types of vascular constructs^[18]. Reproduced with permission from IOP Publishing, Copyright © 2022, IOP Publishing. (B) 3D-printed model of the patient (top). Calcification of the aortic valve leaflet (red arrow)^[143]. Reproduced with permission from Wolters Kluwer Health, Copyright © 2015, Wolters Kluwer Health. (C) 3D printing of a personalized heart patch. From left to right: a 3D model of the heart patch, printing method, and heart patch with printed blood vessels^[145]. Reproduced under Creative Commons license. (D) 3D-printed collagen heart^[149]. Reproduced with permission from The American Association for the Advancement of Science, Copyright © 2022, AAAS.

Figure 5.

(A) 3D-printed canine incisor and molar crown structures. Cyan, rose red, and indigo represent the crowns of canines, incisors, and molars, respectively^[159]. Reproduced under Creative Commons license. (B) 3D printing of dental crown models using photopolymer jetting^[160]. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier, Copyright © 2017, Elsevier. (C) SLA-manufactured alumina dental crown^[163]. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier, Copyright © 2017, Elsevier. (D) 3D printing of complete dentures using SLA^[164]. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier, Copyright © 2023, Elsevier. (E) Image of 3D-printed design combination of peas, carrots and corn suitable for swallowing disorder diet^[170]. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier, Copyright © 2021, Elsevier. (F) Sample chart suitable for swallowing disorder diet^[168]. (G) 3D printing strategy based on mushroom powder^[168]. Reproduced under Creative Commons license.