3D inkjet printing of biomaterials: Principles and applications

This article reviews the fundamental process physics and key applications of binder jetting and “direct” inkjet printing, as the two broad categories of 3D inkjet printing in biomedical device fabrication. Inkjet printing is prospective in contactless bioprinting for both hard and soft tissue regeneration in one hand, whereas on the other, it is immensely beneficial in the near-net-shaped manufacturing of patient/design-specific implants for static load bearing (dental crown, denture frame), articulating (osteochondral cartilage implant) or in vivo blood vessel formation and tissue regeneration applications. With a comprehensive understanding of the governing theories of the transient process physics of both binder jetting and “direct” inkjet printing, the “processing-3D microstructure-property” correlation demonstrates the promise of this less explored technique in “reliable” medical manufacturing. Facilitated by the “on-demand” delivery of small droplets (10–50 pL), inkjet printing can also be deployed to precisely deposit anti-cancer/anti-diabetic drugs on sophisticated medical devices for painless transdermal administration.