Personalized care in veterinary medicine: exploring the potential of additive manufacturing for patient-specific solutions

Abstract

The emergence of additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, has opened transformative possibilities across various medical disciplines, including veterinary medicine. This review presents a comprehensive examination of the principles, technologies, and materials employed in 3D printing, with a particular focus on the potential of 3D bioprinting and its applications in animal healthcare. The review explores key areas of application, including veterinary education and training, preoperative surgical planning, and the development of 3D-printed implants and prosthetics. Furthermore, it delves into tissue engineering innovations, such as drug delivery systems and in vivo tissue regeneration, while also providing in vivo insights into 4D printing, which highlight its emerging role in advancing dynamic and responsive solu-tions for veterinary applications. In addition to exploring the numerous benefits of 3D printing, the review also addresses its limitations and the considerations that must be taken into account when integrating these technologies into veterinary practice. By consolidating novel insights into the applications of 3D printing and bioprinting, this work underscores their immense potential in shaping the future of veterinary science. Overall, 3D printing holds transformative potential to advance veterinary medicine into a new era of precision care and patient-specific solutions.