New review paper on how 3D Printing paves the way for custom bone implants

3D-printing has emerged as a leading technology for fabricating personalized scaffolds for bone regeneration. Among the 3D-printing technologies, vat photopolymerization (VP) stands out for its high precision and versatility. VP is a set of high-resolution 3D printing techniques that projects light into a photosensitive liquid resin, solidifying it into complex three-dimensional structures that have attracted growing interest in bone regeneration applications.

Traditional bone grafts—from patients themselves or donors—often face limitations like limited supply and the risk of immune rejection. These new bone-mimicking structures, made from bioactive ceramics, may finally offer a reliable, customizable alternative that the body can accept and integrate naturally.

This review highlights recent progress in VP-printed calcium phosphate scaffolds, including detailed information about the materials, printing methods, applications, and proposed strategies to enhance mechanical and biological performance. It also provides an overview of the advances made in vat photopolymerization printing of calcium phosphates, covering both the fabrication of full ceramic bodies and polymer-calcium phosphate composites. Finally, the review examines key aspects of the fabrication process, including slurry composition, architectural design, and printing accuracy, highlighting their impact on the mechanical and biological performance of 3D-printed scaffolds.

In Summary, the article paints a hopeful future for personalized 3D‑printed ceramic scaffolds that can evolve into natural bone—strong, biocompatible, and designed case by case. As researchers innovate materials, printer techniques, and post-processing, real-world use in humans becomes more plausible. However, we must remember that challenges like large-scale reproducibility and regulatory approval remain and must be studied in deep before VP-printed of calcium phosphate scaffolds can become a real possibility in bone repair and regeneration.

Title: Strategic advances in Vat Photopolymerization for 3D printing of calcium phosphate-based bone scaffolds: A review
Authors: Roberto Fagotto-Clavijo, Irene Lodoso-Torrecilla, Anna Diez-Escudero, Maria-Pau Ginebra
Journal: Bioactive Materials, Volume 52, October 2025, Pages 719-752
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.05.001