Additive Manufacturing of Bioactive Glasses and Silicate Bioceramics

Abstract

The present paper reviews the application of a broad range of additive manufacturing methods (AMTs), including Stereolithographic Ceramic Manufacturing (SLCM/LCM), 3D-Printing, indirect and direct Selective Laser Sintering/Melting (SLS/SLM), Dispense Plotting and Inkjet Plotting on bioactive glasses (BGs) and silicate bioceramics to fabricate a variety of dense and porous structures for biomedical applications (e.g. bone replacement materials). Topical studies in the literature are complemented by recent data of the authors' own work, highlighting the state-of the-art of additive bioceramic production in terms of materials science and cell-biological aspects. The specific characteristics of the technologies used, their advantages and disadvantages and the scope for future research in this field are discussed. Up to date many studies focus on the use of 45S5 Bioglass® due to its broad commercial availability. However, other bioactive glass formulations, notably 13-93 BG and sol-gel derived BGs, are being also considered in the context of AMTs. In addition, mesoporous bioactive glass (MBGs) structures produced by additive manufacturing technologies are showing promising properties for their potential medical use as bone replacement materials. As the geometrical accuracy and mechanical properties of the fabricated bioactive glass and bioceramic parts strongly vary between the different AMTs, the in-depth knowledge of the detailed capabilities of each production process targeted for BGs and other silicate bioceramic materials, as collated in this review, provides information on the basic requirements and challenges for establishing follow-up studies and for possible expansion of the application fields of such additively manufactured structures.