ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF CALCIUM PHOSPHATE-BASED BIOCERAMICS

Additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a transformative technology in biomedical engineering, particularly in fabricating bioceramic materials. This thesis explores the application of AM techniques in the fabrication of calcium phosphate-based bioceramics, focusing on their potential in regenerative medicine and orthopedic implant manufacturing. The introduction provides an overview of the significance of AM in biomedical engineering, emphasizing the advantages it offers over traditional manufacturing methods. It highlights the precise control enabled by AM techniques in fabricating patient-specific structures and incorporating bioactive molecules, enhancing the regenerative potential of implants. The subsequent chapters delve into the principles, techniques, and applications of AM in calcium phosphate-based bioceramics. Chapter one discusses the fundamentals of AM technology, providing insights into its evolution and impact on bioengineering. Chapter two explores the historical evolution, complex structure, and clinical applications of calcium phosphate bioceramics, with a focus on hydroxyapatite. Chapter three focuses on the analysis of the most significant biomedical studies on the use of calcium-based bioceramics, both in vivo and in vitro. The results of these studies are presented, and possible future directions for the development and application of these bioceramics are discussed in the field of bioengineering. The thesis concludes by discussing the potential of AM in advancing personalized healthcare and addressing the demand for innovative solutions in bone repair and regeneration. It underscores the interdisciplinary nature of research in this field and the transformative impact AM could have on biomaterials science and biomedical device development.