Additive Manufacturing of Bio-implants

Bio-implants are surgically implanted into the human body for either substituting or supporting a biological function or structure. These are capable of serving a variety of medical needs, ranging from restoration of mobility to treatment of health conditions. However, the bio-implants must exhibit biocompatibility with excellent corrosion and biological degradation resistances on their implantation in human body. In addition to this, they are required to possess adequate mechanical strength for sustaining cyclic loading at the fracture site. The advancement in the field of bio-implants holds the potential of enhancing patients’ life with major injuries and chronic diseases. The additive manufacturing (AM) technique allows for the fabrication of customized bio-implants tailored to the specific needs of patients. The AM-based bio-implant manufacturing process results in minimum material wastage and fabrication of complex geometries that facilitate precise fit with the complex anatomical structures. The AM process is mainly utilized for controlling the porosity of bio-implants which are highly crucial for bone tissue regeneration and vascularization. The current chapter discusses the application of AM techniques for fabrication of orthopedic and cardiovascular bio-implants. The research studies suggested the paramount utilization of AM-based fused deposition modeling and selective laser melting processes for the fabrication of orthopedic bio-implants such as scaffolds, screws, and bone plates. Similarly, selective laser melting/sintering, fused deposition modeling, 3D bioprinting, and laser powder bed fusion are currently being predominantly used for the fabrication of cardiovascular implants. Thus, the AM-integrated bio-implant fabrication holds the potential of improving patient outcomes and enhancing quality of life.