3D-Printing of Drug-Eluting Implants: An Overview of the Current Developments Described in the Literature

The usage of 3D-printing for drug-eluting implants combines the advantages of a targeted local drug therapy over longer periods of time at the precise location of the disease with a manufacturing technique that easily allows modifications of the implant shape to comply with the individual needs of each patient. Research until now has been focused on several aspects of this topic such as 3D-printing with different materials or printing techniques to achieve implants with different shapes, mechanical properties or release profiles. This review is intended to provide an overview of the developments currently described in the literature. The topic is very multifaceted and several of the investigated aspects are not related to just one type of application. Consequently, this overview deals with the topic of 3D-printed drug-eluting implants in the application fields of stents and catheters, gynecological devices, devices for bone treatment and surgical screws, antitumoral devices and surgical meshes, as well as other devices with either simple or complex geometry. Overall, the current findings highlight the great potential of the manufacturing of drug-eluting implants via 3D-printing technology for advanced individualized medicine despite remaining challenges such as the regulatory approval of individualized implants.