Recent Advances in 3D Printed Bone Disease Models for Pathophysiological Modeling, Drug Discovery, and Patient Education

Abstract

Bone diseases are major cause of amputations, leading to reduced quality of life and productivity. Many drugs aimed at treating these diseases begin the development pipeline but ultimately do not reach the market due to the lengthy development lifecycle. The development and utilization of 3D-printed bone disease models represent a significant advancement in biomedical research, particularly in the domain of drug screening and discovery. These models replicate the bone microenvironment more effectively than traditional 2D cell cultures and animal models. They offer a promising platform that can speed up drug development. Additionally, they help reduce the ethical concerns related to animal testing. This review explores recent advancements in 3D-printed bone disease models, focusing on their ability to replicate the complex architecture of bone tissues affected by various pathological conditions. It offers an overview of the 3D printing technologies used to create bone disease models and the essential properties of biomaterials needed to adopt effective 3D printing. Additionally, it covers their applications in disease modeling, drug discovery, surgical training, and patient education. It also identifies key challenges that hinder clinical applications and highlights the need for continued research and innovation in this field.