Place of 3D printing in facial epithesis

Three-Dimensional Printing of an Apigenin-Loaded Mucoadhesive Film for Tailored Therapy to Oral Leukoplakia and the Chemopreventive Effect on a Rat Model of Oral Carcinogenesis

Oral leukoplakia, which presents as white lesions in the oral cavity, including on the tongue, is precancerous in nature. Conservative treatment is preferable, since surgical removal can markedly reduce the patient’s quality of life. In the present study, we focused on the flavonoid apigenin as a potential compound for preventing carcinogenesis, and an apigenin-loaded mucoadhesive oral film was prepared using a three-dimensional (3D) bioprinter (semi-solid extrusion-type 3D printer). Apigenin-loaded printer inks are composed of pharmaceutical excipients (HPMC, CARBOPOL, and Poloxamer), water, and ethanol to dissolve apigenin, and the appropriate viscosity of printer ink after adjusting the ratios allowed for the successful 3D printing of the film. After drying the 3D-printed object, the resulting film was characterized. The chemopreventive effect of the apigenin-loaded film was evaluated using an experimental rat model that had been exposed to 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) to induce oral carcinogenesis. Treatment with the apigenin-loaded film showed a remarkable chemopreventive effect based on an analysis of the specimen by immunohistostaining. These results suggest that the apigenin-loaded mucoadhesive film may help prevent carcinogenesis. This successful preparation of apigenin-loaded films by a 3D printer provides useful information for automatically fabricating other tailored films (with individual doses and shapes) for patients with oral leukoplakia in a future clinical setting.

Personalized, 3D- printed fracture fixation plates versus commonly used orthopedic implant materials- biomaterials characteristics and bacterial biofilm formation

Additive manufacturing enabled the development of personalized, ideally fitting medical devices. The topography of the surface of the 3D-printed implant may not only facilitate its integration but also cause its rejection, as the surface may become a reservoir for different bacterial strains. In this study, the innovative, raw, 3D- printed fracture fixation plates, manufactured by using selective laser melting (SLM) from Ti-6Al-4V were compared with commercially available, surface-modified plates commonly used in orthopedic surgery. The topography surface of the plates was studied by atomic force microscopy. Susceptibility to the development of biofilm was tested for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans by using crystal violet staining of biomass, confocal, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). 3D- printed plates showed higher roughness (Sa=131.0 nm) than commercial plates (CP1 and CP2), Sa= 60.67 nm and Sa=55.48 nm, respectively. All strains of bacteria colonized 3D- printed raw plates more densely than commercial plates. The microscopic visualization showed biofilm mostly in irregular cavities of printed plates while on commercial plates it was mainly located along the edges. The research has indicated that there is need for further development of this technology to optimize its effectiveness and safety.