A Review of Recent Applications of 3D Printing in Healthcare Research and Development

Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is rapidly transforming the healthcare landscape by enabling the creation of patient-specific solutions across a wide range of clinical applications. This review explores recent advancements in 3D printing technologies and their implementation in surgical planning, implant fabrication, drug delivery systems, and bioprinting. A major highlight is the role of 3D printing in custom prosthetics design, where the technology allows for highly personalized, anatomically accurate prosthetic limbs that improve functionality, comfort, and aesthetic integration. By leveraging digital scanning and computer-aided design (CAD), prosthetics can be fabricated rapidly and cost-effectively, making them accessible even in low-resource settings. In pharmaceutical science, 3D printing enables the development of complex drug delivery systems tailored to individual pharmacokinetic profiles, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. Bioprinting, another emerging domain, holds promise for tissue regeneration and organ fabrication using living cells and bioinks. Despite its transformative potential, the adoption of 3D printing faces challenges such as regulatory hurdles, material limitations, and the need for interdisciplinary training. Nonetheless, ongoing innovations and regulatory progress suggest a promising future for 3D printing in delivering personalized, efficient, and accessible healthcare solutions—including the growing field of custom prosthetics.