The tremendous interest received by additive manufacturing (AM) within the biomedical community is a consequence of the great versatility offered in terms of processing approach, materials selection, and customization of the resulting device. In particular the unparalleled control over structural and compositional features at the macro- and microscale, as a result of the large design freedom and high reproducibility, is making AM the technology of election for the fabrication of biodegradable medical devices. This article is aimed at providing an update overview of scientific literature on biodegradable polymers for AM application in the biomedical field. The main AM techniques applied so far to biodegradable polymers are outlined by presenting relevant materials processing requirements. The different classes of biodegradable polymers investigated for AM (i.e., proteins, polysaccharides, aliphatic polyesters of either natural or synthetic origin, polyurethanes, as well as other synthetic polymers under AM implementation) are described by highlighting their source of extraction, chemical modification, or synthesis route, and their physical-chemical and processing properties in relationship to AM. Relevant literature on their AM processing for medical and pharmaceutical applications is accordingly reviewed.

在生物医学界，增材制造（AM）引起了极大的兴趣，这是在处理方法，材料选择和所得设备的定制方面提供了极大的多功能性的结果。特别是，由于设计自由度高和可重复性高，对宏观和微观结构和组成特征的无与伦比的控制使AM成为制造可生物降解医疗设备的技术。本文旨在提供有关可生物降解聚合物在AM应用于生物医学领域的科学文献的最新概述。通过介绍相关的材料加工要求，概述了迄今为止应用于可生物降解聚合物的主要增材制造技术。通过重点介绍提取，化学修饰或提取的来源，描述了针对AM研究的不同类别的可生物降解聚合物（即蛋白质，多糖，天然或合成来源的脂族聚酯，聚氨酯以及在AM实施下的其他合成聚合物）合成途径，以及它们与AM的关系。相应地回顾了有关其在医学和制药应用中AM加工的相关文献。以及它们与AM的物理化学和加工性能。相应地回顾了有关其在医学和制药应用中AM加工的相关文献。以及它们与AM的物理化学和加工性能。相应地回顾了有关其在医学和制药应用中AM加工的相关文献。