Melt Electrowriting: A Promising 3D Printing Technology for Cartilage and Osteochondral Repair

Articular cartilage injuries and osteochondral defects are a significant clinical challenge, as conventional treatments often have limited success. Articular cartilage has limited self-regeneration ability due to the absence of blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels, making it challenging to repair tissue defects and restore motor function in injured or aging populations. Additionally, the anatomical complexity and slow regeneration capacity of hyaline cartilage at the osteochondral interface pose significant problems in repairing osteochondral defects. Melt electrowriting, a novel technology particularly suitable for polycaprolactone (PCL) is expected to overcome the common limitations of 3D-printed scaffolds, such as poor tissue-porosity matching, low resolution, and inflexible shapes. In recent years, melt electrowriting (MEW) has become a promising strategy for repairing cartilage and osteochondral defects. However, there is still a lack of systematic understanding regarding the comparative characteristics and application value of MEW compared with commonly used 3D printing technologies such as extrusion printing, inkjet printing, and fusion deposition modeling. This review paper compares the characteristics and advantages of MEW and common 3D printing technologies, providing a comprehensive summary of the significant progress and applications of MEW for cartilage/osteochondral repair. Finally, the challenges and key directions for future research in MEW technology will also be discussed. In recent years, melt electrowriting (MEW) has emerged a promising approach for cartilage and osteochondral defect repair. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of comprehensive comprehension concerning the relative attributes and applicative worth of MEW. This review article delivers an all-encompassing overview of the substantial advancements and applications of MEW in the realm of cartilage and osteochondral restoration.image