Toxicity of biocompatible 3D resins before & after printing

Discover these recent published findings about the toxicity of Formlabs Dental 3D resins even after printing and postprocessing:

Fig. 2

As clearly highlighted in the mentioned scientific paper published by the Northwestern University (Chicago, USA), Formlabs’ Dental SG and LT Clear printed in Form 2 SLA 3D printer were toxic, despite being certified as biomedical devices.

Similarly, the resin of Graphy for direct printing of aligners also resulted to be potentially toxic as reported in this paper published in the European Journal of Orthodontics: Leaching from a 3D-printed aligner resin

Conclusion

Biocompatibility and safety failure can be due to an inadequate resin design from its conception (eg by using toxic raw materials), or due to an inadequate printing, postcuring, and postprocessing equipments and practices, leaving the prints with leachables and extractables, unreacted free monomers, residuals and reaction byproducts.

On one hand, 3D resin suppliers are responsible for using as safe as possible raw materials, while on the other hand 3D printed medical device manufacturers are responsible of designing and implementing appropriate workflows to ensure that their medical devices are safe and free of leachables and extractables beofre commercialization.

Photopolymer 3D resins are liquid photo reactive raw materials, not certified medical devices, which photopolymerise or react with light in the printers, normally layer by layer, to become printed solid photopolymer materials with specific shapes.

Biocompatible 3D printed medical device need to be manufactured properly without leachables and extractables after appropriate design, printing, postcuring, and postprocessing workflows to ensure maximum quality and safety for final users.