From digital design to patient care: Additive Manufacturing for personalized biomedical implants and devices

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative technology in biomedical

engineering, enabling the fabrication of patient-specific implants and devices with high precision and complex

geometries. By integrating advanced imaging, computer-aided design (CAD), and layer-by-layer fabrication,

AM allows for tailored solutions that replicate anatomical structures while optimizing mechanical strength,

porosity, and biological functionality. This mini review highlights the digital workflow, materials, and

fabrication technologies used in personalized implants, including metals, polymers, ceramics, and hybrid

composites. Clinical applications in orthopedics, dentistry, craniofacial reconstruction, and cardiovascular

medicine are discussed, emphasizing improvements in fitness, function, and postoperative outcomes. Current

challenges such as vascularization, mechanical limitations, regulatory barriers, and cost are examined. Finally,

future perspectives focus on smart materials, multi-material printing, bioactive constructs, and AI-assisted

design, which are poised to expand AM’s role in personalized medicine and regenerative therapies. This review

underscores the potential of AM to advance patient-centered care through tailored, functional, and clinically

relevant biomedical implants.