# A Brief Review on Biomimetics 3D Printing Design

**Authors:** Rúben Couto, Pedro R. Resende, Ricardo Pinto, Ramin Rahmani, João C. C. Abrantes, Iria Feijoo

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics10100647 · Biomimetics · 2025-09-26

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how 3D printing can mimic natural designs to solve engineering challenges.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of biomimetics in 3D printing, focusing on design and manufacturing innovations.

## Key findings

- Biomimetics leverages natural strategies to optimize engineering solutions.
- 3D printing enables the replication of complex natural shapes for enhanced performance.
- The paper highlights advances in mechanical properties and composite use in biomimetic designs.

## Abstract

Over millions of years of evolution, nature provided tools to optimize different functions in animals and plants. Different strategies observed in nature serve as models for solving complex engineering problems. Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, enables us to produce shapes that would not be possible with traditional subtractive manufacturing. In this way, it is possible to produce complex detailed shapes using an automatic process. Biomimetics involves drawing inspiration from nature and applying it to solve specific engineering challenges, often with the goal of optimization and enhanced performance. Three-dimensional printing enables the replication of complex natural shapes, opening new avenues for innovation. In this paper, we review the state of the art in biomimetics, including studies on mechanical properties, design strategies, manufacturing techniques, and the use of composites.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** fracture (MESH:D050723), inflammation (MESH:D007249), bone resorption (MESH:D001862), allergic (MESH:D004342), injury to (MESH:D014947), depression (MESH:D003866), Cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), osteolysis (MESH:D010014), fatigue (MESH:D005221), LPBF (MESH:D003668), Orthopedics (MESH:D009140), SLM (MESH:D009155), infection (MESH:D007239)
- **Chemicals:** Ti (MESH:D014025), water (MESH:D014867), stainless steel (MESH:D013193), steel (MESH:D013232), PETG (MESH:C066907), silver (MESH:D012834), ETFE (MESH:C040378), CO2 (MESH:D002245), Ni-Ti (MESH:C013616), SiC (MESH:C022088), manganese (MESH:D008345), Resin (MESH:D012116), copper (MESH:D003300), tricalcium phosphate (MESH:C018392), TiN (MESH:C041500), Polymers (MESH:D011108), carbon (MESH:D002244), Ni (MESH:D009532), Zinc (MESH:D015032), Metals (MESH:D008670), Fe (MESH:D007501), polydopamine (MESH:C568283), PLA (MESH:C033616), Co-Cr (-), Mg (MESH:D008274), hydroxyapatite (MESH:D017886), PLGA (MESH:D000077182), Ti-6Al-4V (MESH:C031462), BG (MESH:C064976), Co (MESH:D003035)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Leonurus cardiaca (species) [taxon 587664], Megaptera novaeangliae (humpback whale, species) [taxon 9773], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090], Canis lupus familiaris (dog, subspecies) [taxon 9615], Paracentrotus lividus (common sea urchin, species) [taxon 7656], Bombyx mori (domestic silkworm, species) [taxon 7091]
- **Cell lines:** NIH 3T3 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_0594)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12561772/full.md

## Figures

21 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12561772/full.md

## References

160 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12561772/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12561772