3D Bioplotter Research Papers

3D printed bioceramics derived from preceramic polymers are of great interest in bone tissue engineering due to their simplified fabrication processes. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) porous β-Ca2SiO4 scaffolds incorporated with ZrO2 were fabricated from silicone resin loaded with active CaCO3 and inert ZrO2 fillers by 3D printing. The fabricated scaffolds possessed uniform interconnected macropores with a high porosity (> 67%). The results showed that the increase of ZrO2 incorporation significantly enhanced the compressive strength, and stimulated cell proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. Importantly, the in vivo results indicated that the ZrO2-incorporated β-Ca2SiO4 scaffolds improved osteogenic capacity compared to pure…

Silicate bioceramic scaffolds are of great interest in bone tissue engineering, but the fabrication of silicate bioceramic scaffolds with complex geometries is still challenging. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) porous β-Ca2SiO4 scaffolds have been successfully fabricated from preceramic resin loaded with CaCO3 active filler by 3D printing. The fabricated β-Ca2SiO4 scaffolds had uniform interconnected macropores (ca. 400 μm), high porosity (>78%), enhanced mechanical strength (ca. 5.2 MPa), and excellent apatite mineralization ability. Importantly, the results showed that the increase of sintering temperature significantly enhanced the compressive strength and the scaffolds sintered at higher sintering temperature stimulated the adhesion, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity,…

Hypertrophic scars (HS) are considered to be the greatest unmet challenge in wound and burn rehabilitation. The most common treatment for HS is pressure therapy, but pressure garments may not be able to exert adequate pressure onto HS due to the complexity of the human body. However, the development of three-dimensional (3D) scanning and direct digital manufacturing technologies has facilitated the customized placement of additively manufactured silicone gel onto fabric as a component of the pressure therapy garment. This study provides an introduction on a novel and customized fabrication approach to treat HS and discusses the mechanical properties of 3D…

In recent years, tissue engineering has experienced significant advancements, mostly driven by the emergence of additive manufacturing technologies and the integration of biomaterials and cells. This advanced technique enables the creation of intricate structures with diverse components and properties, specifically designed for use in biomedical applications. The primary benefit of this technology is its ability to be customised, which helps minimise post-operative difficulties for patients with orthopaedic diseases and those undergoing tissue transplants. For this purpose, the essential components can be synthesised by the patient’s own cells. However, there are still other obstacles that need to be addressed in order…

Bioprinting consists in an innovative approach able to improve the current techniques of bioregeneration in the medical field through the extrusion of cell-loaded bioinks. Its main advantage is the customization to reduce post-operative complications on the patient, as it can be produced from his own cells. The success of bioprinting is determined by the printing parameters but, above all, by the materials. The goal of this work was to define a range of parameters, in order to achieve the highest printing stability, in terms of the quality of the Bioplotter® Silicone TG in relation to process conditions used.

Excellent electrical performance of assemblies of 1D silver nanowires (AgNWs) has been demonstrated in the past years. Up to now, however, there are limited approaches to realize simultaneously deterministic assembly with dense arrangement of AgNWs and desired functional layouts. Herein, an assembly strategy from compressed air-modulated alignment of AgNWs to heterogeneous integration of stretchable sensing devices through printing transfer is proposed. In this process, a convective flow induced by compressed air brings the AgNWs to the air–droplet interface, where the AgNWs are assembled with excellent alignment and packing due to the surface flow, van der Waals, and capillary interactions. Compared…

Decellularized extracellular matrices (ECMs) are being extensively used for tissue engineering purposes and detergents are predominantly used for this. A facile detergent-free decellularization method is developed for dermal matrix and compared it with the most used detergent-based decellularization methods. An optimized, single-step, cost-effective Hypotonic/Hypertonic (H/H) Sodium Chloride (NaCl) solutions-based method is employed to decellularize goat skin that resulted in much higher yield than other methods. The ECM composition, mechanical property, and cytocompatibility are evaluated and compared with other decellularization methods. Furthermore, this H/H-treated decellularized dermal ECM (ddECM) exhibits a residual DNA content of <50 ng mg−1 of dry tissue. Moreover, 85.64 ± 3.01% of glycosaminoglycans…

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a semi-automated segmentation approach that identifies the round window niche (RWN) and round window membrane (RWM) for use in the development of patient individualized round window niche implants (RNI) to treat inner ear disorders. Twenty cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) datasets of unilateral temporal bones of patients were included in the study. Defined anatomical landmarks such as the RWM were used to develop a customized 3D Slicer™ plugin for semi-automated segmentation of the RWN. Two otolaryngologists (User 1 and User 2) segmented the datasets manually and semi-automatically using the developed…

The regular way to determine the in vitro release rates of drugs from implantable drug delivery systems consists of the complete immersion of the implant into a medium. The medium surrounds the implant, and the diffusion of the drugs occurs across the whole implant surface directly into the medium. This method does not accurately model the release rates if the real diffusion only happens across only one part of the surface of the implant, through a membrane, and into a small volume of medium. It also does not address the anatomical shape of the studied structure. One example for this…

Damping mechanical resonances is a formidable challenge in an increasing number of applications. Many passive damping methods rely on using low stiffness, complex mechanical structures or electrical systems, which render them unfeasible in many of these applications. Herein, a new method for passive vibration damping, by allowing buckling of the primary load path in mechanical metamaterials and lattice structures, is introduced, which sets an upper limit for vibration transmission: the transmitted acceleration saturates at a maximum value in both tension and compression, no matter what the input acceleration is. This nonlinear mechanism leads to an extreme damping coefficient tanδ ≈ 0.23…

Postoperative restenosis in patients with external ear canal (EEC) atresia or stenosis is a common complication following canaloplasty. Our aim in this study was to explore the feasibility of using a three dimensionally (3D)-printed, patient-individualized, drug ((dexamethasone (DEX)), and ciprofloxacin (cipro))-releasing external ear canal implant (EECI) as a postoperative stent after canaloplasty. We designed and pre-clinically tested this novel implant for drug release (by high-performance liquid chromatography), biocompatibility (by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay), bio-efficacy (by the TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha)-reduction test (DEX) and inhibition zone test (for cipro)), and microbial contamination (formation of turbidity or sediments in culture medium).…

Controlled release of drugs from medical implants is an effective approach to reducing foreign body reactions and infections. We report here on a one-step 3D printing strategy to create drug-eluting polymer devices with a drug-loaded bulk and a drug-free coating. The spontaneously formed drug-free coating dramatically reduces the surface roughness of the implantable devices and serves as a protective layer to suppress the burst release of drugs. A high viscosity liquid silicone that can be extruded based on its shear-thinning property and quickly vulcanize upon exposure to ambient moisture is used as the ink for 3D printing. S-Nitrosothiol type nitric…

Auricle reconstruction is a routine surgery in the field of Otolaryngology but the design of the reconstruction is based on the clinicians guess of the correct previous anatomy. Using additive manufacturing processes to build a model the surgeon can refer to may be a good substitute for conventional surgery. The quality of the framework replicating the three-dimensional architecture of the ear and precise sculpting of the anatomical structures are necessary in order to reach a desired outcome. In this work we present the workflow to produce an individualized 3D outer ear model for use in auricle reconstruction surgery and report…

Flexible and stretchable conductors are crucial components for next-generation flexible devices. Wrinkled structures often have been created on such conductors by depositing conductive materials on the pre-stretched or organic solvent swollen samples. Herein, water swelling is first proposed to generate the wrinkled structures on silicone elastomers. By immersing silicone/sugar hybrid in water, a significant amount of swelling occurs as a result of osmosis and capillary interactions with the sugar and silicone matrix. Considering the drastic swelling effect and controllable swelling ratio, water swelling is used to replace the conventional pre-stretching and organic solvent swelling to fabricate stretchable conductors. In situ…

Currently, 3D printing is one of the popular technological production methods, mainly because it offers various options that affect the resulting properties of prints. The aim of the presented work is to manufacture a prosthetic finger with a PIP and DIP joint using multi-material 3D printing, which will allow to mimic the flexion of a physiological finger. The subject of this research and testing is the design of a combination of solid and flexible material for a monolithic finger model, which will allow the required bending in selected areas of the print.

Bacterial infection of the implanting materials is one of the greatest challenges in bone tissue engineering. In this study, porous forsterite scaffolds with antibacterial activity have been fabricated by combining 3D printing and polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) strategy, which effectively avoided the generation of MgSiO3 and MgO impurities. Forsterite scaffolds sintered in an argon atmosphere can generate free carbon in the scaffolds, which exhibited excellent photothermal effect and could inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro. In addition, forsterite scaffolds have uniform macroporous structure, high compressive strength (>30 MPa) and low degradation rate.…

Several problems in science and engineering are characterized by the interaction between fluid flows and deformable structures. Due to their complex and multidisciplinary nature, these problems cannot normally be solved analytically and experiments are frequently of limited scope, so that numerical simulations represent the main analysis tool. Key to the advancement of numerical methods is the availability of experimental test cases for validation. This paper presents results of an experiment specifically designed for the validation of numerical methods for aeroelasticity and fluid-structure interaction problems. Flexible filaments of rectangular cross-section and various lengths were exposed to air flow of moderate Reynolds…

Engineering substantia propria (or stroma of cornea) that mimics the function and anatomy of natural tissue is vital for in vitro modelling and in vivo regeneration. There are, however, few examples of bioengineered biomimetic corneal stroma. Here we describe the construction of an orthogonally oriented 3D corneal stroma model (3D-CSM) using pure electro-compacted collagen (EC). EC films comprise aligned collagen fibrils and support primary human corneal stromal cells (hCSCs). Cell-laden constructs are analogous to the anatomical structure of native human cornea. The hCSCs are guided by the topographical cues provided by the aligned collagen fibrils of the EC films. Importantly,…

In order to compare the influence of the manufacturing methods on the property of silicone samples, the latticed structure of sample are designed, the silicone material is prepared and the silicone sample are produced by 3D printing and injection molding respectively. Four performance indexes of latticed silicone parts including the error of line width, the error of quality, tensile strength at break and elongation at break are proposed and measured. A fuzzy comprehensive evaluation system for evaluating the optimal forming method of the parts is provided. The performance indexes are used as evaluation factors, and the importance degree of the…

Three dimensional (3D) printing has been used to fabricate bioceramic scaffolds for treating the tumor-related defects in recent years, but the fabrication process and the introduction of anti-tumor agents are still challenging. In this study, porous free carbon-embedding larnite (larnite/C) scaffolds have been successfully fabricated by 3D printing of the silicone resin loaded with CaCO3 filler and high temperature treatment under an inert atmosphere. The fabricated larnite/C scaffolds had uniform interconnected macropores (ca. 400 μm), and exhibited excellent photothermal effect, which was able to kill human osteosarcoma cells (MNNG/HOS) and inhibit the tumor growth in nude mice. Moreover, the larnite/C scaffolds…

This paper describes experiments carried out in a wind tunnel with three flexible silicone filaments (length to diameter ratio L/D = 50, 100, 150) hanging in crossflow in the range of reduced velocities of 7 < U* < 150 and at various attachment angles (0 ≤ α ≤ 90°) with respect to the flow direction. At low reduced velocities, due to the negligible bending stiffness, the filaments were statically reconfigured but remained mostly rectilinear along their lengths, except for the relatively small bent portion of the filaments close to the upstream fixed end. As the reduced velocity was further increased the filaments started vibrating, but in…

Experiments were carried out to study the dynamics of hanging cantilever flexible filaments in air cross-flow. Thirteen flexible filaments of 0.61 mm diameter and lengths from 20 mm to 60 mm were tested with wind speeds in the range of 1–15 m/s, corresponding to Reynolds numbers of 25 

Reconfigured flexible filaments exposed to steady fluid load were investigated using a novel non-contact optical technique to measure the normal fluid force due to the fluid loading on inclined cylinders for Reynolds numbers from 25 to 460: a range not covered in previous studies that is of relevance in drag reduction and energy harvesting applications. The ranges of the buoyancy number and the Cauchy number covered in the tests were 3.6 × 10^4 ≤ B ≤ 2.1 × 10^6 and 7.6 × 10^4 ≤ Ca ≤ 1.4 × 10^7. These newly generated data were then used to assess and extend…

Using an innovative, tissue-independent approach to decellularized tissue processing and biomaterial fabrication, the development of a series of “tissue papers” derived from native porcine tissues/organs (heart, kidney, liver, muscle), native bovine tissue/organ (ovary and uterus), and purified bovine Achilles tendon collagen as a control from decellularized extracellular matrix particle ink suspensions cast into molds is described. Each tissue paper type has distinct microstructural characteristics as well as physical and mechanical properties, is capable of absorbing up to 300% of its own weight in liquid, and remains mechanically robust (E = 1–18 MPa) when hydrated; permitting it to be cut, rolled,…

3D printing technology is driving innovation in a wide variety of disciplines, and is beginning to make inroads into the fields of medicine and biology. In particular, 3D printing is being increasingly utilized for the design and fabrication of three-dimensional cell culture scaffolds. This technology allows for scaffolds to be produced rapidly while maintaining a great deal of control over the matrix architecture. This paper presents an effective technique for rapidly designing and fabricating scaffolds from silicone rubber and polycaprolactone (PCL), appropriate for primary human cardiomyocyte cell cultures. Additionally, a stimulation device is developed and presented which can provide 6…

A variety of different approaches have been employed to enable implantation of electronic medical microdevices. A novel method of producing low-cost, rapidly fabricated implantable enclosures from biocompatible silicone is presented in this paper. This method utilises 3D computer-aided design software to design and model the enclosures prior to fabrication. The enclosures are then fabricated through additive manufacturing from biocompatible silicone using a 3D bioprinter. In this paper, four different implantable enclosure designs are presented. A prototyping stage with three different prototypes is described, these prototype enclosures are then evaluated through submersion and operation tests. A final design is developed in…

This paper discusses design and fabrication processes in the development of a wearable and flexible conductive resistive sensor. The design and development of the sensor involve the use of Sn-Ag-Cu (SAC)plated Nylon fabric, precisionfused deposition modeling(FDM) using silicone and petrolatum for etch-resistant masks using the EnvisionTEC GmbH Bioplotter, and wet etching using Chromium, Ammonium Persulphate, and Salt-Vinegar etching solutions. Preliminary testing with other mask types, development processes, and sensor design approaches for various applications are discussed.

A number of methods have been used to make electronic medical microdevices biocompatible. This paper presents a novel approach for design and fabrication of biocompatible silicone enclosures for implantable medical microdevices. The approach involves design and formation of a 3D model of the enclosure using a computer-aided design software tool, followed by 3D printing of the enclosures using a bioplotter. Three different implantable enclosure designs are presented. The fabrication of the three enclosures is given. An evaluation of the suitability of the enclosures for implantation of a deep brain stimulation microdevice is discussed through submersion and operation tests. The evaluation…

Computer-assisted design and image processing were combined with computer-guided one- and two-component air-driven 3D dispensing of hotmelts, solutions, pastes, dispersions of polymers as well as monomers and reactive oligomers to produce solid objects with complex shapes and tailor-made internal structures. During the 3D plotting process either individual microdots or microstrands were positioned in order to construct complex objects, fibers, tubes and scaffolds similar to non-wovens. The resolution was in the range of 200 μm and depended upon inner nozzle diameter, air pressure, plotting speed, rheology, and plotting medium. Plotting in liquid media with densities similar to that of the dispensing…