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International Journal of Bioprinting 3D printing innovations against infection

Figure 8. Applications of 3D printing in the manufacture of medical devices and personal protective equipment (PPE) in the fight against COVID-19.
Three-dimensional printing technology is utilized to create many different protective objects during COVID-19 pandemic, including PPE, personal
accessories, emergency patient dwellings, training and visualization aids, COVID-19 testing devices, and various medical devices. Abbreviations: CPAP,
continuous positive airways pressure; BiPAP, bilevel positive airway pressure. The image in the middle was created with Figdraw. Reproduced with
permission from ref. .
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rapid prototyping provides an alternative to commercial swabs. Therefore, these two 3D-printed nasopharyngeal
N95 respirators and a customizable solution for individuals swabs should be considered as the back-up options when
facing challenges with standard respirators. possible supply chain issues for COVID-19 nasopharyngeal
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Additionally, to perform COVID-19 testing, swabs arise. Williams et al. conducted a prospective
healthcare professionals need to use nasopharyngeal (NP) study, using 3D printing to create nasal swabs for SARS-
antimicrobial biocellulose swabs, which are inserted into the CoV-2 sample collection. Experimental results showed
patient’s nasal cavity to collect a biological sample. Creating qualitative consistency in SARS-CoV-2 detection between
3D-printed test swabs will help improve COVID-19 testing samples collected with 3D-printed swabs and traditional
capabilities. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs can swabs. The 3D-printed swabs, utilizing SLS with PA2200
be made from flexible polymers, with the shaft portion medical-grade biocompatible nylon 12, exhibited high
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made from polystyrene, and can be finely customized flexibility. Similarly, Alghounaim et al. developed cost-
using CAD software. A prospective study was conducted effective PLA 3D-printed swabs, proven effective for
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by Oland et al., who designed two new types of 3D-printed nasopharyngeal sample collection in prospective studies
nasopharyngeal swabs that were compared to standard compared to commercially manufactured swabs.
conventional flocked nasopharyngeal swabs. The results In addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, repurposing
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showed that the swab called “Lattice Swab” had 93.3% antiviral drugs and immunosuppressants, along with
sensitivity and 96.8% specificity for positive COVID-19 innovative therapeutic approaches, are crucial for
detection, while the other swab called “Origin KXG” had therapeutic development. Nanomaterials, particularly in
83.9% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The conclusions of the context of the latest NP fabrication techniques, are
the study indicate that both 3D-printed nasopharyngeal playing a pivotal role. These techniques enable the precise
swabs demonstrated a high degree of consistency with the synthesis of viral glycoprotein structures, demonstrating
performance of the conventional flocked nasopharyngeal vaccine-like efficacy and, in some studies, surpassing

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 145 doi: 10.36922/ijb.2338