Table 1.

Summary of 3D printing techniques. FDM: fused deposition modeling, PLA: polylactic acid, ABS: acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, PC: polycarbonate, DIW: direct ink writing, SLA: stereolithography, MJM: multijet modeling, SLS: selective laser sintering, DLW: direct laser writing.

3D Printing Technique	Principle	Materials	Pros	Cons	Commercially Available Printers
FDM [35,36]	Filament Extrusion	PLA, ABS, PC, Acrylates	Inexpensive, Fast, Multiple Materials	Low resolution, Roughness, Leakage	Makerbot, Ultimaker Prusa
DIW [46,47,48]	Ink Extrusion	Alginates, Gelatin, Hyaluronates, Epoxy resin	Biocompatible, High Resolution	Extensive Optimization Required	3D-Bioplotter, BioAssemblyBot
SLA [54,55]	Light Assisted Polymerization	Acrylates	Good Resolution, Flexibility	Single Material	Form2, FabPro, Nobel
MJM [59,64,65]	Printable Photocurable Resin on Support	Multiple Materials	Multiple Materials, High Resolution	Expensive	ProJet, Multijet
SLS [67,68]	IR Beam to Sinter Powdered Polymer	Ceramics, Metals, Polymers	Good Resolution, Variety of Substartes	Expensive, Special handling	Fuse 1, Sintratec
DLW [73,74]	Two-Photonn Absorption and Polymerization	Polymeric Resin	Exceptional Resolution, Biocompatible	Bulky Instrument	Femtowriter, Tungsten-LAM