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ATLANTA—Interventional radiologists say they’ve successfully used 3D printers to develop personalized medical devices that can deliver antibiotics and chemotherapy in a targeted manner in vitro.
Researchers and engineers collaborated to print catheters, stents, and filaments that were bioactive, giving these devices the ability to deliver antibiotics and chemotherapeutic medications to a targeted area in cell cultures.
Horacio R. D’Agostino, MD, of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, discussed this work at the 2015 Society of Interventional Radiology’s Annual Scientific Meeting (abstract 13).
“3D printing allows for tailor-made materials for personalized medicine,” Dr D’Agostino said. “It gives us the ability to construct devices that meet patients’ needs, from their unique anatomy to specific medicine requirements. And as tools in interventional radiology, these devices are part of treatment options that are less invasive than traditional surgery.”
Using 3D printing technology and resorbable bioplastics, Dr D’Agostino and his colleagues developed bioactive filaments, chemotherapy beads, and catheters and stents containing antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents.
The team then tested these devices in cell cultures. They found the antibiotic-containing catheters inhibited E coli growth, and filaments carrying chemotherapeutic agents inhibited the growth of osteosarcoma cells.
“We treat a wide variety of patients and, with some patients, the current one-size-fits-all devices are not an option,” Dr D’Agostino noted. “3D printing gives us the ability to craft devices that are better suited for certain patient populations that are traditionally tough to treat, such as children and the obese, who have different anatomy. There’s limitless potential to be explored with this technology.”
The researchers were also able to print biodegradable filaments, catheters, and stents that contain antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. These devices might help patients avoid the need to undergo a second procedure or treatment to remove or destroy the delivery vehicle.
Dr D’Agostino said this early success with 3D-printed instruments in the lab warrants further studies, with the goal of receiving approval to use these devices in humans. He also sees an opportunity to collaborate with other medical specialties to deliver higher-quality, personalized care to all types of patients. 
ATLANTA—Interventional radiologists say they’ve successfully used 3D printers to develop personalized medical devices that can deliver antibiotics and chemotherapy in a targeted manner in vitro.
Researchers and engineers collaborated to print catheters, stents, and filaments that were bioactive, giving these devices the ability to deliver antibiotics and chemotherapeutic medications to a targeted area in cell cultures.
Horacio R. D’Agostino, MD, of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, discussed this work at the 2015 Society of Interventional Radiology’s Annual Scientific Meeting (abstract 13).
“3D printing allows for tailor-made materials for personalized medicine,” Dr D’Agostino said. “It gives us the ability to construct devices that meet patients’ needs, from their unique anatomy to specific medicine requirements. And as tools in interventional radiology, these devices are part of treatment options that are less invasive than traditional surgery.”
Using 3D printing technology and resorbable bioplastics, Dr D’Agostino and his colleagues developed bioactive filaments, chemotherapy beads, and catheters and stents containing antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents.
The team then tested these devices in cell cultures. They found the antibiotic-containing catheters inhibited E coli growth, and filaments carrying chemotherapeutic agents inhibited the growth of osteosarcoma cells.
“We treat a wide variety of patients and, with some patients, the current one-size-fits-all devices are not an option,” Dr D’Agostino noted. “3D printing gives us the ability to craft devices that are better suited for certain patient populations that are traditionally tough to treat, such as children and the obese, who have different anatomy. There’s limitless potential to be explored with this technology.”
The researchers were also able to print biodegradable filaments, catheters, and stents that contain antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. These devices might help patients avoid the need to undergo a second procedure or treatment to remove or destroy the delivery vehicle.
Dr D’Agostino said this early success with 3D-printed instruments in the lab warrants further studies, with the goal of receiving approval to use these devices in humans. He also sees an opportunity to collaborate with other medical specialties to deliver higher-quality, personalized care to all types of patients.
ATLANTA—Interventional radiologists say they’ve successfully used 3D printers to develop personalized medical devices that can deliver antibiotics and chemotherapy in a targeted manner in vitro.
Researchers and engineers collaborated to print catheters, stents, and filaments that were bioactive, giving these devices the ability to deliver antibiotics and chemotherapeutic medications to a targeted area in cell cultures.
Horacio R. D’Agostino, MD, of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, discussed this work at the 2015 Society of Interventional Radiology’s Annual Scientific Meeting (abstract 13).
“3D printing allows for tailor-made materials for personalized medicine,” Dr D’Agostino said. “It gives us the ability to construct devices that meet patients’ needs, from their unique anatomy to specific medicine requirements. And as tools in interventional radiology, these devices are part of treatment options that are less invasive than traditional surgery.”
Using 3D printing technology and resorbable bioplastics, Dr D’Agostino and his colleagues developed bioactive filaments, chemotherapy beads, and catheters and stents containing antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents.
The team then tested these devices in cell cultures. They found the antibiotic-containing catheters inhibited E coli growth, and filaments carrying chemotherapeutic agents inhibited the growth of osteosarcoma cells.
“We treat a wide variety of patients and, with some patients, the current one-size-fits-all devices are not an option,” Dr D’Agostino noted. “3D printing gives us the ability to craft devices that are better suited for certain patient populations that are traditionally tough to treat, such as children and the obese, who have different anatomy. There’s limitless potential to be explored with this technology.”
The researchers were also able to print biodegradable filaments, catheters, and stents that contain antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. These devices might help patients avoid the need to undergo a second procedure or treatment to remove or destroy the delivery vehicle.
Dr D’Agostino said this early success with 3D-printed instruments in the lab warrants further studies, with the goal of receiving approval to use these devices in humans. He also sees an opportunity to collaborate with other medical specialties to deliver higher-quality, personalized care to all types of patients.