From: Challenges on optimization of 3D-printed bone scaffolds
Technology category | Technology name | Compatible materials | Advantages | Limitations |
---|---|---|---|---|
Laser-based | SLA | Liquid photopolymers | Obtaining complex internal features Ability to build large parts Bioprinting Good accuracy and high resolution | Need for support structures, not to collapse under hydrostatic pressure Difficulty in removal of support structures |
SLS | Polymer powders Ceramic powders | No need for post-processing No need for support structures Good mechanical properties Economic | Material wastage Difficulty in removal of the entrapped powder manually | |
EBM | Metal powders | Good mechanical properties | Slow and expensive Need for support structures to reduce stresses and avoid warping | |
LENS | Metal powders Ceramic powders | Good mechanical properties Ability to fabricate composites and FGMs | Post-processing is required Cutting of built part from the build substrate Low dimensional accuracy | |
SLM | Good mechanical properties | Probability of warping and inconsistent mechanical properties due to non-uniform heat distribution Slow and expensive | ||
2PP | Photopolymer or hydrogel solutions | Good resolution enabling integration of nano-sized and microscale features | For bone scaffolding, should be used along with other 3D printing methods to provide favorable material properties | |
Extrusion-based | FDM | Polymeric and polymer-based composite filaments | Good mechanical properties Moderate speed enabling the control over porosity and properties Adaptable for bioprinting | Not suitable for printing most proteins and cells because the heating needed for providing molten phase |
MJ | Liquid photopolymers | No need for post-curing | Poor mechanical properties | |
Ink-based | IJP | Mostly hydrogels, but other polymers and ceramics are also used such as PCL, HA, bioactive glasses and PLA Metal nanoparticles can be incorporated such as silver | Bioprinting Fast and cheap | Constructs built are often fragile Need for post-processing to strengthen the constructs |
AJP | Higher resolution than Inkjet Printing Greater range of materials with significantly lower viscosities than inkjet printing | Not suitable for bioprinting due to necessity to atomize the inks Expensive |