Electroactive polymers are effective actuators that respond to electrical stimuli, producing mechanical displacement. Their combined features encourage the application of electroactive polymers in the medical and healthcare sectors. Dielectric elastomers (DEAs) are the most promising electroactive polymers due to their high efficiency, fast response time, lightweight, and large strain. This review discusses the working principle, typical configurations, structures, key materials for DEAs, and their potential use in biological systems. Additionally, we discuss the applications, advantages, and disadvantages of DEAs in modern medicine. The influence of dielectric permittivity and the elastic modulus of the material on the deformation rate of the elastomer is discussed. Mechanical, biological, and chemical requirements for biomedical DEAs are addressed. The role of the structure of a dielectric elastomer actuator in the development of artificial muscles and other actuators is considered.

New technologies in additive manufacturing and patient-specific CT-based custom implant designs make it possible for previously unimaginable salvage and limb-sparing operations a practical reality. This study presents the design and fabrication of a lattice-structured implant for talus replacement surgery. Our primary case involved a young adult patient who had sustained severe damage to the talus, resulting in avascular necrosis and subsequent bone collapse. This condition caused persistent and debilitating pain, leading the medical team to consider amputation of the left foot at the ankle level as a last resort. Instead, we proposed a Ti6Al4V-based patient-specific implant with lattice structure specifically designed for pan-talar fusion. Finite element simulation is conducted to estimate its performance. To ensure its mechanical integrity, uniaxial compression experiments were conducted. The implant was produced using selective laser melting technology, which allowed for precise and accurate construction of the unique lattice structure. The patient underwent regular monitoring for a period of 24 months. At 2-years follow-up the patient successfully returned to activities without complication. The patient’s functional status was improved, limb shortening was minimized.

This study presents manufacturing of Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)- Hydroxyapatite (HA) composite by Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology. PEGDA along with HA extracted from bovine was mixed with a photoinitiator (PI) and water to achieve optimized rheology for DLP. The printing parameters for DLP were optimized. Chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite were characterized. The compressive strength of PEGDA-HA composite achieved a maximum of 20 MPa in Z direction. The flexural strength was 56 MPa and 34 MPa for horizontal and vertical orientations, correspondingly, indicating anisotropic behavior of the samples. The cytotoxicity assessments were performed. The 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay and confocal imaging indicated that the scaffold powder exhibits minimal cytotoxicity at low concentrations (0.001 g/ml), with high cell viability and minimal cell death or membrane damage.