Biotechnology and 3D printing in transforming prosthetic limb manufacturing for personalised healthcare

The use of three-dimensional (3D) printing in the manufacturing of prosthetic limbs has become a revolutionary technology that presents new opportunities of customisation, affordability and accessibility. Conventional prosthetic production is usually expensive, labour-intensive, and has a shortage of capacity to meet various anatomical requirements, particularly in low-resource environments. This narrative review examines how biotechnology and additive manufacturing are coming together to develop prosthetic limbs. It combines technological innovations and social and medical consequences, relying on the existing literature and practice. Findings showed that 3D printing allows high levels of customisation by means of digital scanning and modelling, increases affordability by minimising manual labour and material waste, and increases access by means of decentralised, localised production. Such initiatives as the Victoria Hand Project prove its scalability in underserved communities. In addition to the advantages of technology, 3D-printed prostheses increase patient satisfaction, social inclusion, empower users and local healthcare systems. Nevertheless, some obstacles still exist such as material constraints, regulatory uncertainty, ethical issues and standardisation barriers. In conclusion, the 3D printing in prosthetics is a major step towards inclusive and personalised healthcare. In order to achieve its full potential, the future should be aimed at enhancing materials, regulation, and integrating ethical frameworks into the innovation pipeline.