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Advanced materials and fabrication methods for finger prostheses: Biocompatibility, toxicological safety, and sustainability perspectives
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This review of 107 studies looks at the materials used to make finger prosthetics—from traditional silicone to newer 3D-printed and "smart" materials—and finds that while these newer options offer better customization, we don't yet fully understand their safety risks, like tiny particles, chemical residues, and microplastic waste released during manufacturing or as the devices wear down over time. The researchers argue that better safety testing and environmental impact standards are needed before these advanced materials become widespread, since patients and factory workers alike could be exposed to substances whose long-term health effects aren't well studied yet.
Finger prosthesis is one of the most researches area in prosthetic device design, considerable advances have been achieved in finger actuation principles, material selection like advanced materials, additive manufacturing and embedded control technologies. But the progressive complexity of prosthetic materials and fabrication routes also raises unanswered questions in relation to biocompatibility, toxicological safety, occupational exposure, life-cycle impact, and clinical translation. Methods This review engages qualitative principles and uses PRISMA-style methods to assess existing literature, synthesizing 107 peer-reviewed publications that variously explore material selection, fabrication methods, safety concerns, sustainability, and implementation barriers. Methodologies Studies were categorized by material class, fabrication route, functional role of chemical(s), exposure pathway, and evidence type. The analysis shows that silicone elastomers and established biomedical polymers are patients-oriented because of their long clinical history and user acceptance, while advanced composites, nanomaterials, smart materials and sensor-integrated systems involve additional uncertainties concerning degradation products, wear debris, residual monomers, nanoparticle release; electronic waste and regulatory preparedness. Although the application of additive manufacturing enables a high level of customization and accessibility, process-imposed risks including ultrafine particles (UFPs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), resin residues, and microplastic waste during desktop 3D printing are persistently released into environments. In general, the literature is still dominated by functional performance and descriptive design innovation with a lack of standardization in toxicological testing, life-cycle assessment related to specific materials, post-market surveillance and regulatory translation. Thus, this review advocates a novel assessment framework for finger prostheses by full consideration of biocompatibility, material degradation, exposure control during fabrication, sustainability metrics and clinical implementation aspects with a safety-bearing concept.
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