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International Journal of Bioprinting 3D printing innovations against infection

Figure 3. Three-dimensional printing technology of antimicrobial materials in clinical applications. The innovative applications of 3D-printed antimicrobial
materials have demonstrated great potential to improve therapeutic outcome in the clinical practice, including dental materials, fracture fixation, urinary
catheters, bone molds, heart stents, skin patches and wound dressings, and hernia meshes and prosthetic joints. The schematic was created with Figdraw.
Reproduced with permission from refs. 76-86 .

replacement surgery varies between 4% and 10%. a significant challenge in the field of orthopedic surgery,
87
Staphylococci, particularly S. aureus and coagulase- frequently emerging as a leading cause of arthroplasty and
negative staphylococci, are the predominant causative fracture repair failures. These infections can manifest with
microorganisms, accounting for over 50% of prosthetic symptoms such as pain, swelling, and fever in patients,
hip and knee infections. 9,88,89 These microorganisms are potentially leading to implant loosening, dysfunction, and
responsible for causing common opportunistic infections, long-term health complications.
taking advantage of compromised in vivo immune defenses
at the implant surface or tissue interface, by attaching to the Treatment strategies for implant infections encompass
tissue or implant surface and forming biofilm subsequent. a range of approaches, including radical debridement,
90
Biofilm development ultimately results in tissue damage, antibiotic therapy, implant retention, and one- and two-
93
systemic dissemination of pathogens, and dysfunction stage revision procedures. To complete the revision
at the implant–bone interface, culminating in implant process, the prior implant must be extracted and replaced
material failure. Exogenous routes of orthopedic implant with an antibiotic-eluting spacer block crafted from
infections can be classified as follows 91,92 : (i) infections polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Subsequently, after
triggered by direct contact with the surgical site during 6 to 8 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy, the new
or immediately after surgery; (ii) sequential infections implant can be reintroduced. 94,95 However, the overall
acquired through the spread of neighboring infected foci; success of these treatments remains relatively constrained.
and (iii) hematogenous infections originating from infected Concerning bone infection, it is urgent to facilitate effective
distant foci (e.g., blood or lymphatic fluids). Orthopedic prevention and treatment methods of bone infection
implant-associated infections are widely recognized as and life-threatening complications. The development of

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 129 doi: 10.36922/ijb.2338