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Recent technological advances in the field of Additive Manufacturing (AM) and the increasing need in Regenerative Medicine (RM) for devices that better and better mimic native tissue architecture are showing limitations in the current scaffolds fabrication techniques. A switch from the typical layer-by-layer approach is needed to achieve precise control on fibres orientation and pores dimension and morphology. In this work a new AM apparatus, the RAVEN (Robot-Assisted Volumetric ExtrusioN) system, is presented. RAVEN is based on a 7-DOF robotic arm and an extruder and allows for volumetric extrusion of polymeric filaments. The development process, namely the robotic motion optimisation, the optimisation towards small-scale trajectories, the custom-made hardware/software interfaces, and the different printing capabilities are hereby presented. The successful results are promising towards future advanced applications in which the ability of the robot to change its configuration while printing will be crucial.

Three-dimensional chitosan-gallic acid complexes were proposed and prepared for the first time by a simple adsorption process of gallic acid (GA) on three-dimensional chitosan structures (3D chitosan). Highly porous 3D devices facilitate a high GA load, up to 2015 mmol/kg at pH 4.0. The preservation of the redox state of GA released from 3D chitosan was confirmed by spectroscopic analyses. The antioxidant activity of 3D chitosan-GA complexes was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay and was found to be dramatically higher than that of free chitosan. The mechanical property of 3D chitosan–GA complexes was also evaluated using a compression test. Finally, 3D chitosan–GA complexes showed a significant antimicrobial capacity against E. coli and S. aureus, selected, respectively, as a model strain for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Our study demonstrated a new, simple, and eco-friendly approach to prepare functional chitosan-based complexes for nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and pharmaceutical applications.

Tissue engineering or tissue reconstruction/repair/regeneration may be considered as a guiding strategy in oral and maxillofacial surgery, as well as in endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics, and daily clinical practice. A wide range of techniques has been developed over the past years, from tissue grafts to the more recent and innovative regenerative procedures. Continuous research in the field of natural and artificial materials and biomaterials, as well as in advanced scaffold design strategies has been carried out. The focus has also been on various growth factors involved in dental tissue repair or reconstruction. Benefiting from the recent literature, this review paper illustrates current innovative strategies and technological approaches in oral and maxillofacial tissue engineering, trying to offer some information regarding the available scientific data and practical applications. After introducing tissue engineering aspects, an overview on additive manufacturing technologies will be provided, with a focus on the applications of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the biomedical field. The potential applications of magnetic fields and magnetic devices on the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement will be analysed.