Using competitive and technology intelligence to determine 4D printing technology advances in health considering design factors and applications.

Abstract

Currently there is an increasing demand in the medical field for low-cost, high-quality products as well as personalized solutions, and different manufacturing methods are being investigated to provide innovative solutions. Four-dimensional (4D) printing is a promising technology to solve challenges associated with applications of 4D printing in regenerative medicine and biomedical devices. A revolution is expected to come in this regard, and it is essential to keep abreast of the latest developments. Under this context, the purpose of this thesis is to determine 4D printing technology advances in the medical field, considering design factors and applications, using a Competitive Technology Intelligence (CTI) methodology. For this aim, publications were analyzed from the Scopus database between January 1, 2017, and May 9, 2023. The main trends were identified for both Design Factors and Applications. In the first case, the following were considered: 4D printing methods, external stimuli, materials, mathematical models, interaction mechanisms, and deformation mismatch, while in the second case, the applications of 4D printing involved were considered: drug delivery systems, stents, and scaffolds. The obtained Design Factors results included improvements in mechanical properties of hydrogels by adding magnetic nanoparticles, bio-polyurethan, and other materials, the development of cell-friendly bioprinting methods to print cellular structures, and the use of theoretical-experimental approaches to predict shape deformation of structures. While for Applications, results included advances in the development of expandable drug delivery systems, fabrication of stents for treatment of vascular and tracheal stenosis, and the design of scaffolds for the treatment of cartilage defects and bone regeneration. This research contributes to researchers, academics, and companies involved in Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation looking for new solutions to improve health incorporating breakthrough technologies such as 4D printing.