Page 5 - IJB-3-2

PERSPECTIVE

Post-printing surface modification and

functionalization of 3D-printed biomedical device

Yi Zhang
Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University

Abstract: 3D printing is a technology well-suited for biomedical applications due to its ability to create highly complex
and arbitrary structures from personalized designs with a fast turnaround. However, due to a limited selection of
3D-printable materials, the biofunctionality of many 3D-printed components has not been paid enough attention. In this
perspective, we point out that post-3D printing modification is the solution that could close the gap between 3D printing
technology and desired biomedical functions. We identify architectural reconfiguration and surface functionalization as
the two main post-3D printing modification processes and discuss potential techniques for post-3D printing modifica-
tion to achieve desired biofunctionality.
Keywords: 3D printing, biomedical, post-3D printing modification, 4D printing, 3D-printed microfluidics

Correspondence to: Yi Zhang, Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological
University, Singapore; Email: yi_zhang@ntu.edu.sg

Received: January 20, 2017; Accepted: April 7, 2017; Published Online: June 6, 2017
Citation: Zhang Y, 2017, Post-printing surface modification and functionalization of 3D-printed biomedical device. International
Journal of Bioprinting, vol.3(2): 93–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.18063/IJB.2017.02.001.

1. Introduction field mainly fall into three categories. The first cate-
gory is biomodeling. At organ level, organs or other
3 [1–5] large biological entities are constructed from imaging
D-printing technology has garnered significant
attention from the public, academia and industry
[7,8]
data using 3D printing
. Examples include liver
in recent years
. It has been gradually trans-
[9]
formed from a prototyping and modeling tool to a fab- model used for surgical planning . At molecular lev-
el, biomolecular models are created based on crystal-
rication technique that promises a great potential of lographic information [10] . These visual models are
[6]
revolutionizing manufacturing industry . Two unique helpful in studying molecular interactions and dyna-
features of 3D-printing technology make it well-suited [11]
for biomedical applications. Firstly, 3D printing is mics . The second category is in vivo biomedical
able to monolithically fabricate highly complex and devices including 3D-printed tissue engineering scaf-
[1,3,4,12–15]
arbitrary structures from digital designs, which is par- folds and 3D-printed prosthetics . These de-
ticularly useful in the fabrication of organ models, vices are designed to temporarily or permanently re-
tissue engineering scaffolds and bioimplant devices place damaged tissues or organs in the living body.
with highly irregular and hierarchical architectures The third category is in vitro biomedical platform such
that are difficult to produce using traditional manu- as microfluidic systems for molecular diagnostics and
facturing techniques. Secondly, 3D printing produces functional cell assays [16–21] . Currently, much effort
fully customized components with a fast turnaround in biomedical 3D printing has been devoted to creat-
from design to production, which would make per- ing desired 3D architecture. The role of 3D-print-
sonalized medicine a reality in the near future. ed components is typically limited to providing struc-
Current applications of 3D printing in biomedical tural support. Their role as a biologically functional

Post-printing surface modification and functionalization of 3D-printed biomedical device. © 2017 Yi Zhang. This is an Open Access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), permitting
all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
93