Research Progress on the Application of 3D Printing Technology in Special Medical Foods

As an emerging intelligent manufacturing technology, 3D printing has demonstrated immense potential in the field of special medical purpose formula foods. This article systematically elaborates on the principles of food 3D printing technology and its research progress in special medical foods, with a particular focus on analyzing the application characteristics of the two major technological approaches: extrusion-based food 3D printing and laser sintering food 3D printing. Studies have shown that 3D printing technology can not only achieve quantitative nutrition adjustment and food texture optimization by precisely controlling the proportions, microstructures and functional components of ingredients, but also help in the precise delivery of drug ingredients, effectively solving problems such as swallowing disorders in the elderly, anorexia in children and dietary management in patients with metabolic diseases. At the same time, it reveals the core challenges faced by current technologies in the 3D molding process, such as quality control and safety. To address these issues, it proposes solutions such as raw material formulation optimization, laser and electrospinning-assisted molding, multi-laser collaborative control, and automatic cleaning. In the future, by integrating sustainable material development with intelligent production systems, this technology will serve as a crucial enabler for precise nutrition delivery and innovation in medical diets.