3D Bioplotter Research Papers

We present a novel additive manufacturing method for NiTi-Nb micro-trusses combining (i) extrusion-based 3D-printing of liquid inks containing NiTi and Nb powders, solvents, and a polymer binder into micro-trusses with 0/90° ABAB layers of parallel, ∼600 µm struts spaced 1 mm apart and (ii) subsequent heat-treatment to remove the binder and solvents, and then bond the NiTi powders using liquid phase sintering via the formation of a transient NiTi-Nb eutectic phase. We investigate the effects of Nb concentration (0, 1.5, 3.1, 6.7 at.% Nb) on the porosity, microstructure, and phase transformations of the printed NiTi-Nb micro-trusses. Micro-trusses with the highest Nb content…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) transduced with a lentiviral (LV) vector to overexpress bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) loaded onto a novel 3D printed scaffold. Human ADSCs were transduced with a LV vector carrying the cDNA for BMP-2. The transduced cells were loaded onto a 3D printed Hyperelastic “Bone” (HB) scaffold. In vitro BMP-2 production was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis. The ability of ADSCs loaded on the HB scaffold to induce in vivo bone formation in a hind limb muscle pouch model was assessed in the following groups:…

Ureteral stents are commonly used in clinical treatment of ureteral diseases. There were a series of complications, such as biofilms and crusts caused by bacteria after surgery. Therefore, biodegradable with bacteriostatic ureteral scaffolds would be the potential to solve above mentioned problems. In this study, nanosilver (AgNP) was added to the polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) to prepare biodegradable antibacterial ureteral scaffold samples by 3D printing. The biocompatibility, antibacterial properties, degradability, and mechanical properties of samples were observed. The samples were under a strong inhibitory effect on both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and the…

Porous bioceramic scaffolds were obtained by the 3D printing technique starting from a mixture of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and a powder obtained by sol-gel method which contains merwinite, monticellite, pseudowolastonie and periclase.The scaffolds were thermally treated at 1370 °C for 3 h and the main mineralogical compound assessed by XRD was akermanite. The obtained scaffolds have adequate mechanical and biological properties thus a great potential for applications in hard tissue engineering. The positive results obtained for this type of scaffolds are due to the precision of 3D printing technique, i.e. ability to control shape and size of both scaffolds and…

Effective therapeutic approaches to overcome the heterogeneous pro-inflammatory and inhibitory extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment are urgently needed to achieve robust structural and functional repair of severely wounded fibrocartilaginous tissues. Herein we developed a dynamic and multifunctional nanohybrid peptide hydrogel (NHPH) through hierarchical self-assembly of peptide amphiphile modified with biodegradable two-dimensional nanomaterials with enzyme-like functions. NHPH is not only injectable, biocompatible, and biodegradable but also therapeutic by catalyzing the scavenging of pro-inflammatory reactive oxygen species and promoting ECM remodeling. In addition, our NHPH method facilitated the structural and functional recovery of the intervertebral disc (IVD) after severe injuries by delivering pro-regenerative…

Aerogels were listed among the top ten emerging technologies in chemistry by IUPAC in 2022. Their record-breaking properties sparked the emergence of a thriving insulation market, but solutions are sought to promote additional applications. A 3D assembly process based on direct ink writing of “aerogel-in-aerogel” nanocomposites is presented. The printed polyimide-silica aerogels are non-brittle (E = 6.7 MPa) with a super-insulating thermal conductivity (20.3 mW m−1 K−1) and high thermal stability (T5wt% 447 °C). In addition, they display excellent low-loss dielectric properties and microwave transmission over all relevant communication bands and can be functionalized for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The high shape-fidelity printing, combined…

Promoting rapid healing of diabetic wounds caused by hyperglycemia, bacterial infection, and chronic inflammation is a global challenge. To address this issue, we design and prepare a novel cerium-based MOF nanozyme hydrogel via 3D printing technology to provide a personalized hydrogel wound dressing. The hydrogel is unique in that cerium-based MOFs are grown into the hydrogel network, simplifying the printing process of MOF hydrogel. The prepared hydrogel exhibits specific catalytic activity to various oxygen free radicals and glucose concentration-dependent color changes due to the interconversion between different valence cerium ions. This feature allows for indirect monitoring of glucose content around…

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a thermally conductive yet electrically insulating two-dimensional layered nanomaterial that has attracted significant attention as a dielectric for high-performance electronics in addition to playing a central role in thermal management applications. Here, we report a high-content hBN-polymer nanocomposite ink, which can be 3D printed to form mechanically robust, self-supporting constructs. In particular, hBN is dispersed in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and 3D printed at room temperature through an extrusion process to form complex architectures. These constructs can be 3D printed with a composition of up to 60% vol hBN (solids content) while maintaining high mechanical flexibility and…

Background Bone tissue engineering, based on three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, has emerged as a promising approach to treat bone defects using scaffolds. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of porosity and internal structure on the mechanical properties of scaffolds. Methods We fabricated composite scaffolds (which aimed to replicate trabecular bone) from polycaprolactone (PCL) reinforced with 30% (wt.) nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) by extrusion printing. Scaffolds with various porosities were designed and fabricated with and without an interlayer offset, termed as staggered and lattice structure, respectively. Mechanical compressive testing was performed to determine scaffold elastic modulus and yield strength.…

Background Scaffolds are of great importance in tissue engineering applications as they provide a mechanically supportive environment for cellular activity, which is particularly necessary for hard tissues such as bone. Notably, the mechanical properties of a scaffold vary with differing design parameters such as those related to scaffold height and internal structure. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the relationship between design parameters and mechanical properties of composite polycaprolactone (PCL) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp) scaffolds fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printing. Methods We designed and printed scaffolds with different internal structures (lattice and staggered) and varying heights (4, 6, 8 and…