4D PrintingArticle

Application and potential of 4D printing in medicine

Alena Findrik Balogova, Viktoria Rajtukova, Bibiana Ondrejova, Radovan Hudak · 4S go, s.r.o. · 2025

4D printing utilizes smart materials to create dynamic medical devices that adapt to patient needs and improve treatment personalization.

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Plain English summary

This article explores 4D printing, a technology that adds time as a dimension to 3D printing, allowing materials to change shape or properties in response to stimuli. It highlights its applications in medicine, such as adaptable implants and targeted drug delivery systems. The article also addresses the benefits and challenges of implementing 4D printing in medical contexts.

Why this matters

4D printing has the potential to revolutionize medical devices by making them more adaptable and personalized, which can lead to better patient outcomes. By reducing invasiveness and improving functionality, this technology could significantly enhance the quality of care in healthcare settings.

Key findings

  • 4D printing adds a dynamic dimension to 3D printing.
  • Smart materials can change shape in response to stimuli.
  • Applications include adaptable implants and targeted drug delivery.
  • Benefits include reduced invasiveness and improved device functionality.
  • Challenges include material selection and regulatory limitations.

What's new

The article presents the integration of time as a dimension in printing technologies, specifically focusing on its medical applications.

Limitations

The abstract mentions challenges in material selection, technical and regulatory limitations, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration but does not provide specific examples.

Commercial context

The abstract does not provide information on the commercial status of 4D printing technologies.

Publication

Publisher
4S go, s.r.o.
Publication date
December 31, 2025
Research type
Article

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Method note: Summaries and ratings on this page are generated by AI from the abstract only. Read the original paper for full context. · Model: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18