3D printing of musculoskeletal tissues: impact on safety and health at work

ABSTRACT

Additive manufacturing (commonly referred to as 3D printing) created an attractive approach for regenerative medicine research in musculoskeletal tissue engineering. Given the high number of fabrication technologies available, characterized by different working and physical principles, there are several related risks that need to be managed to protect operators. Recently, an increasing number of studies demonstrated that several types of 3D printers are emitters of ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds whose harmful effects through inhalation, ingestion and skin uptake are known. Confirmation of danger of these products is not yet final, but this provides a basis to adopt preventive measures in agreement with the precautionary principle. The purpose of this investigation was to provide a useful tool to the researcher for managing the risks related to the use of different kinds of three-dimensional printers (3D printers) in the lab, especiallyconcerning orthopedic applications, and to define appropriate control measures. Particular attention was given to new emerging risks and to developing response strategies for a comprehensive coverage of the health and safety of operators.

KEYWORDS:

• 3D printing
• nanoparticles
• volatile organic compounds
• tissue engineering
• risk assessment

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Patrizia Rappini and Jacopo Faranda Cordella for the technical assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding this paper. Mauro Petretta is an employee of RegenHU, working at laboratory RAMSES at Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli under a professional partnership. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported and by the Italian Ministry of Health “Piattaforma integrata di studi preclinici per lo studio e lo sviluppo di biomateriali multifunzionali e di terapie adiuvanti per la chirurgia ricostruttiva e rigenerativa dell’apparato muscoloscheletrico; Italian Ministry of health [5x1000, 2015 redditi 2014].