3D printing of self-healing materials for drug delivery applications: Promises, advances and outlooks

This article examines 3D-printed structures that have self-healing properties. Additive manufacturing, also known as additive printing or 3D printing, is a sophisticated and adaptable technology that enables rapid, on-demand manufacturing of solid items made through a construction process based on a virtual computer-aided design (CAD) model. A technique known as 3D printing (3DP) enables the rapid creation of complex geometric shapes with previously unimaginable precision and performance. However, the availability of tunable-quality materials, especially those developed for additive manufacturing, remains a barrier to the widespread use of 3DP technology. This may increase the lifetime and performance of structural elements and even enable the propagation of living tissues for use in biomedical applications, including organ printing. This study discusses and analyzes the most relevant findings from the recent publication of 3D printable and self-healing polymer materials, by providing a chemical and physical self-healing process that may be used in 3D printing, as well as drug production and drug delivery devices. Finally, a critical discussion of the current landscape and possible development scenarios will take place.