3D Bioplotter Research Papers
3D printed and smart alginate wound dressings with pH-responsive drug and nanoparticle release
The pH of a wound site can undergo a significant change from its normal range of 5.4–5.6 to a more alkaline environment of 7.2–8.9 after being infected by microorganisms. Therefore, the development of a smart material that can respond to this shift in pH and release antimicrobial agents for effective treatment of wound infections holds great promise for the future of wound care. In the present work, we produced 3D printed alginate wound dressings doped with calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP NPs), referred to as alginate-CaP nanocomposites hereafter. The CaP NPs enabled pH-responsive switching of the degradation and drug release of…
3D printing of multi-scale porous β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds: Mechanical properties and degradation
Processing-structure-property relationships of 3D-printed multi-scale porous ceramics were investigated. Direct ink writing (DIW) of oil-templated colloidal pastes produced hierarchically porous beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds. Print architecture and microporosity within filaments were varied, mimicking bone structure. The scaffolds exhibited 60–70 % porosity with interconnected macropores 300–700 μm and microporosity within the filaments at the 10 micron-scale. Varying surfactant and oil concentrations created two micro-pore morphologies – bubble-like pores (emulsion) and channel-like pores (capillary suspension). Emulsion scaffolds were stronger, stiffer and more reliable than capillary suspension scaffolds under both compression and bending. Reducing nozzle diameter and inter-filament distance improved strength and stiffness,…