The advent of 3D printing technologies has led to a new era in tissue regeneration, offering unparalleled precision and versatility in fabricating scaffolds for various biomedical applications. Robocasting and stereolithography stand out among these technologies for their distinct advantages in engineering complex tissue structures. Robocasting, an extrusion-based 3D printing technique, has shown significant promise in cartilage tissue engineering. Its ability to precisely deposit biomaterials layer-by-layer allows the creation of porous scaffolds with encapsulated cells and bioactive molecules that improve mechanical properties and biological functionality. These scaffolds support the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes or mesenchymal stem cells, facilitating the regeneration of damaged cartilage. Stereolithography, a light-based 3D printing technique, offers remarkable resolution and accuracy with highly detailed structures that closely resemble the complex architecture of tissues. This makes it particularly suitable for new treatments for injuries and diseases of cartilage and ocular tissue regeneration. Integrating robocasting and stereolithography presents a synergistic approach to replicating cartilage and ocular tissues' complex physical and biological environments, offering innovative regenerative therapies. This review highlights the recent advancements and potential of robocasting and stereolithography in regenerative medicine, focusing on their applications in cartilage and ocular tissue regeneration. Graphical Abstract

The fabrication of instructive materials to engineer bone substitute scaffolds is still a relevant challenge. Current advances in additive manufacturing techniques make possible the fabrication of 3D scaffolds with even more controlled architecture at micro- and submicrometric levels, satisfying the relevant biological and mechanical requirements for tissue engineering. In this view, integrated use of additive manufacturing techniques is proposed, by combining 3D printing and air-jet spinning techniques, to optimize the fabrication of PLA tubes with nanostructured fibrous coatings for long bone defects. The physicochemical characterization of the 3D tubular scaffolds was performed by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, profilometry, and mechanical properties. In vitro biocompatibility was evaluated in terms of cell adhesion, proliferation, and cell–material interactions, by using human fetal osteoblasts to validate their use as a bone growth guide. The results showed that 3D-printed scaffolds provide a 3D architecture with highly reproducible properties in terms of mechanical and thermal properties. Moreover, nanofibers are collected onto the surface, which allows forming an intricate and interconnected network that provides microretentive cues able to improve adhesion and cell growth response. Therefore, the proposed approach could be suggested to design innovative scaffolds with improved interface properties to support regeneration mechanisms in long bone treatment.

The incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles (NP) into nanofibrous polymeric membranes (NPM) is an attractive approach to developing multifunctional nanocomposites. The purpose of this study was to incorporate titanium dioxide (TiO₂) NP into NPM to enhance the overall properties. Polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes with TiO₂-NP (0.2 wt%) was fabricated by means of the Air-Jet Spinning (AJS) technique. The physicochemical characterization of the PCL-TiO₂-NPM was performed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), the morphology was observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and tensile strength and Young’s moduli were evaluated using an INSTRON Universal Testing Machine. In-vitro biocompatibility was evaluated in terms of cell adhesion and cell proliferation using human fetal osteoblasts. The results obtained demonstrated that TiO₂-NP added to the PCL-NPM increases the values of tensile strength and Young’s moduli (p < 0.008 and p < 0.043) with respect to PCL-NPM without TiO₂-NP. XRD exhibited the characteristic peaks of PCL at 21.3° and 23.7° and of TiO₂ at 36°. The SEM micrographs revealed a random distribution with interconnected micropores. Cell adhesion and proliferation increased according to the time of the culture; only after the first period of cell culture was there a significant difference in cell proliferation (p < 0.05). The possible potential application of this PCL-PNM by Air-Jet Spinning (AJS) in tissue engineering could favor bone regeneration due that the addition of TiO₂-NP.

The development of bioactive dental materials with antimicrobial and biocompatible properties is important for improving clinical outcomes and reducing complications associated with intraoral devices. This study presents a novel approach that combines a 3D-printed shape-memory resin (TC-85DAC) with green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to enhance biological performance. ZnO NPs were synthesized using Dysphania ambrosioides extract, producing quasi-spherical particles with a crystalline hexagonal structure and sizes between 15 and 40 nm. Resin discs were coated with ZnO NPs at 10%, 20%, and 30%, then assessed for biocompatibility with human gingival fibroblasts and antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis and Streptococcus mutans. Surface roughness was also considered with and without ZnO NPs. Biocompatibility assays revealed a concentration- and time-dependent increase in cell viability, with the highest values at 30% ZnO NPs after 72 h of exposure to the NPs. Antibacterial testing confirmed the inhibition of both species, with Porphyromonas gingivalis showing greater sensitivity. Surface roughness increased with higher ZnO NPs concentrations, significantly influencing biological interactions. The integration of green-synthesized ZnO NPs with shape-memory resin produced a multifunctional dental material with improved bioactivity. This sustainable strategy enables bioactive coatings on 3D-printed resins, with potential applications in the next generation of smart dental devices.

La era digital o era de la información comenzó a mediados de 1970 y a partir de entonces el ritmo de la tecnología ha aumentado de forma acelerada, esto ha revolucionado la forma en que nos comunicamos, interaccionamos, vivimos y trabajamos. La tecnología tiene un impacto importante en la odontología y traerá cambios sustanciales en la docencia, investigación y atención de los pacientes. Entre los cambios en los métodos de enseñanza se encuentran las innovaciones en la simulación clínica y el aprendizaje virtual, que poco a poco han ido sustituyendo el uso de imágenes 2D, disponibles en libros de texto, por modelos 3D, específicamente en el estudio de la anatomía humana, ya que son capaces de recrear de manera fidedigna los detalles anatómicos de los huesos, por lo que la utilidad de estos modelos es realmente valiosa en el estudio práctico de la anatomía.1

Wound dressing coverages (WDC) play a key role in protecting skin lesions and preventing infection. Polymeric membranes have been widely explored as WDC due to their ability to incorporate bioactive agents, including antimicrobial nanoparticles and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)-based membranes functionalized with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) and ibuprofen (IBP) were fabricated using a film manufacturing approach, and their structural and biocompatibility profiles were evaluated. The membranes were characterized by SEM, FTIR and XPS. Bands at 1725 cm⁻¹, 2950 cm⁻¹, 2955 cm⁻¹, 2865 cm⁻¹ and 510 cm⁻¹ proved molecular stability of reagents during manufacture. In SEM, the control shows the flattest surface, while the PCL-IBP and PCL-IBP-TiO₂ NPs groups had increased rugosity. In vitro biocompatibility was evaluated using human fetal osteoblasts (hFOB). On day 3, the cell adhesion response of hFOB seeded in PCL-IBP and PCL-IBP-TiO₂ NPs groups showed the biggest absorbances (p = 0.0014 and p = 0.0491, respectively). On day 7 PCL-IBP group had lower lectin binding than the control (p = 0.007) and the PCL-IBP-TiO₂ NPs (p = 0.015) membranes, but no evidence of cytotoxicity was observed in any group. Furthermore, the Live/Dead test adds more biocompatibility evidence to conveniently discriminate between live and dead cells. The PCL polymeric membrane elaborated in this study may confer antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, making these membranes ideal for skin lesions.