Three-dimensional printing of medical devices and biomaterials with antimicrobial activity: A systematic review

Medical device-associated infections pose a threat to healthcare budgets in both developed and developing countries. Over the last decade, researchers have been looking for antimicrobial biomaterials using three-dimensional (3D) printing. This systematic review aims to understand the current state of the art in antimicrobial 3D-printed materials and their applications in healthcare. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to conduct this study. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched for this review. According to the inclusion criteria, 269 relevant articles were retrieved for this study. Material extrusion was revealed to be the most commonly used 3D printing methodology for biomaterials and medical device production. Polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, chitosan, and alginate were the most explored materials for this application. Besides, vancomycin and gentamicin were the most prevalent antimicrobial substances loaded into 3D biomaterials. Further, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are the most evaluated pathogens against 3D-printed materials. In conclusion, 3D printing is an excellent tool for designing functionalized biomaterials and developing alternatives for nosocomial infections. We hope this review provides helpful insights for scientists and innovation centers to understand the potential of the 3D-printed antimicrobial materials found in this study and the demands and opportunities for further research in this area.