A Brief Technical Review On 4d Printing And Application In Medical And Pharmaceutical Sector

Abstract

4D printing is an emerging and advanced technology of manufacturing and fabricating a smart complex structure which can change its own behavior while exposing to external environment. 4D printing helps to create a 3D physical object by adding smart material layer by layer through computer-operated computer-aided design (CAD) data. Here the 4^th dimension “Time” is integrated to add a lot of advantages to the 3D (Lateral and Vertical movement) bio printed objects in both medical and pharmaceutical sector, make a microscopic change in its shape, size, pH, properties or function with respect to an applied external stimulus (such as heat, light, pressure or moisture). In this regard, the 4D printed structures draw a special attention in pharmaceutical and biomedical field to do the extensive research by exploring various dugs for a particular genetic or hereditary disease. This review highlights on how the 4D printing is the latest technology that creates innovation and addresses complex medical problems. Paper briefly describes the 4D printing and details its difference from 3D printing technology, the materials used and the transformation of preprogrammed dynamic polymer with their composites and the shape memory polymers used as the smart materials (stimulus responsive). After that the current progress and application of this updated technology is explored for the development of implantable biomedical devices and pharmaceutical medications are discussed.