AccScience Publishing / IJB / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/IJB025260250
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RESEARCH ARTICLE

3D-printed patient-specific titanium implant for mandibular reconstruction with local drug release: Optimization, in vivo evaluation, and functional assessment

Chiao-Min Chang1,2 ,  Shao-Fu Huang1,2 ,  Hsuan-Wen Wang1,2 ,  Lu-Yi Yu1,2 ,  Tzu-Huan Huang1,3 ,  Chun-Liang Lo1,2 ,  Chun-Li Lin1,2*
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1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical Device Innovation and Translation Center, National Yang Ming Chaio Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
3 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
IJB, 025260250 https://doi.org/10.36922/IJB025260250
Received: 27 June 2025 | Accepted: 21 July 2025 | Published online: 21 July 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Reconstruction of severe mandibular defects remains a significant clinical challenge due to high recurrence rates, inadequate anatomical restoration, and the limited efficacy of systemic chemotherapy. To address these limitations, a patient-specific, 3D-printed titanium mandibular implant was developed with an integrated refillable drug storage tank for localized cisplatin release. The tank surface geometry and the hydrogel formulation were optimized using the Taguchi method and incorporated into anatomically matched implants. In vivo evaluation in six porcine mandibular defect models demonstrated systemic safety over 12 weeks, with plasma platinum levels reduced by more than 60% compared to systemic administration. Hematological and biochemical indicators—including white blood cell count, liver enzymes, and renal function markers—remained within normal ranges throughout the observation period, confirming physiological stability and biocompatibility. No significant complications or implant loosening were observed. Functional validation was further performed on three representative human mandibular large-defect models. Finite element analysis revealed implant stresses well below the yield strength of Ti6Al4V (<40%), and four-point bending fatigue tests confirmed structural endurance beyond one million loading cycles. This study presents the first functional and biocompatible patient-specific mandibular implant with integrated, refillable drug delivery, offering a clinically translatable strategy for simultaneous reconstruction and localized chemotherapy in head and neck oncology.  

Graphical abstract
Keywords
3D printing
Drug release
Functional test
Patient-specific implant
Taguchi
Funding
This study was supported in part by the National Science and Technology Council project (project no.: 113-2327-B-A49-001), Taiwan.
Conflict of interest
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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International Journal of Bioprinting, Electronic ISSN: 2424-8002 Print ISSN: 2424-7723, Published by AccScience Publishing
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