3D Bioplotter Research Papers

Extrusion-based 3D printing of thermoplastic polymers presents significant potential for bone tissue engineering. However, a key limitation is the frequent absence of filament porosity and the inherent osteoconductive properties. This study addresses these challenges by fabricating poly(lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PLATMC) scaffolds with dual-scale porosity: macroporosity achieved through controlled filament spacing and microporosity introduced via NaCl leaching. The inclusion of NaCl generated rough, porous surfaces that were well-suited for dip-coating with magnesium-carbonate-doped hydroxyapatite (MgCHA), thereby imparting osteoconductive functionality. Thermal analysis revealed that salt incorporation had minimal impact on the polymer’s thermal stability. Rheological studies and computational modeling indicated that NaCl reduced the…

The increasing use of electronic devices raises concerns about resource availability and end-of-life management, particularly regarding conductors for interconnects and sensing elements. While gold and silver are the leading materials for interconnects, they pose challenges related to scarcity, cost, and toxicity. Zinc offers a promising alternative due to its good electrical conductivity, non-toxicity, abundance, and affordability. However, challenges in achieving high conductivity and waste generation from processing techniques like screen-printing remain. To address this, a zinc ink optimizes for 3D printing is proposed, using active zinc particles in a shellac matrix. The methods, including chemical and photonic sintering, achieve conductivities…

A wound, defined as a disruption in the continuity of the skin, is among the most common issues in the population and poses a significant burden on healthcare systems and economies worldwide. Despite the countless medical devices currently available to promote wound repair and skin regeneration, there is a growing demand for new skin devices that incorporate innovative biomaterials and advanced technologies. Bioglasses are biocompatible and bioactive materials capable of interacting with biological tissues. Due to their ability to promote fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, collagen production, and evade antibacterial activity, they have been suggested as key players in the skin regeneration…

Purpose: The repair effect of peripheral nerve injury mainly depends on rapid regeneration of proximal axons, accurate docking, and effective nerve re-innervation of target organs. Accordingly, identifying effective methods to protect the functional state of target organs and realize rapid regeneration of proximal nerve fibers is of great significance. The purpose of this study is to build a nervous electrical stimulation system powered by electromagnetic induction and evaluate its repair effect on a rat sciatic nerve defect model. Methods: Biodegradable materials [magnesium (Mg), polylactic acid (PLLA), chitosan, and silk fibroin] were chosen to build thein vivo part of the wireless…

Background: Unrepairable massive rotator cuff tears (UMRCTs) are challenging to surgeons owing to the severely retracted rotator cuff musculotendinous tissues and extreme defects in the rotator cuff tendinous tissues. Purpose: To fabricate a tendon stem cell–derived exosomes loaded scaffold (TSC-Exos-S) and investigate its effects on cellular bioactivity in vitro and repair in a rabbit UMRCT model in vivo. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: TSC-Exos-S was fabricated by loading TSC-Exos and type 1 collagen (COL-I) into a 3-dimensional bioprinted and polycaprolactone (PCL)–based scaffold. The proliferation, migration, and tenogenic differentiation activities of rabbit bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) were evaluated in…

In pre-hospital care, achieving rapid and effective hemostasis for arterial rupture and visceral perforation wounds remains a critical challenge. Herein, we have developed a macroporous sponge with double-network structure using foaming technique, chemical and physical crosslinking reactions, and lyophilization. The prepared sponge not only demonstrates outstanding water absorption and water-triggered shape recovery capacity, but also exhibits significantly enhanced mechanical properties due to the construction of double-network structure. Simultaneously, the sponge shortens blood clotting time (from 1354.3 ± 41 s to 473.0 ± 28 s) by concentrating blood components and regulating coagulation pathways. Particularly, the sponge possesses excellent 3D printability and…

Mg-stabilised Na-β’’-alumina solid electrolyte (Mg-BASE) for Na-ion batteries was synthesised and fabricated into 3D structures via direct ink writing (DIW), an extrusion-based additive manufacturing process. To produce a water-based ink with optimum viscoelastic properties and supreme printing quality, a comprehensive investigation of ink formulation and printing parameters was conducted. The sintered 3D structures of Mg-BASE, fabricated via direct ink writing, achieved relative density of 98.0 ± 1.1 % with β’’ phase fraction of 99.7 wt% whilst bulk ionic conductivity of 0.081 S⋅cm−1 at 350 °C was obtained. XRD results indicated that Mg-BASE fabricated via DIW may have different c-axis orientation than conventional dry-pressed pellets, leading to…

Extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing of gelatin (Gel) is crucial for fabricating bone tissue engineering scaffolds via additive manufacturing. However, the thermal instability of Gel remains a persistent challenge, as it tends to collapse at mild temperatures. Current approaches often involve simply mixing Gel particles with various materials, resulting in biomaterial inks that lack uniformity and have inconsistent degradation characteristics. In this study, acetic acid was used to dissolve Gel and polycaprolactone (PCL) separately, producing homogeneous Gel/PCL dispersions with optimal pre-treatment performance. These dispersions were then combined and hybridized with nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) to create a composite printing ink. By evaluating the…

The growth plate (GP) is a crucial tissue involved in skeleton development via endochondral ossification (EO). The bone organoid is a potential research model capable of simulating the physiological function, spatial structure, and intercellular communication of native GPs. However, mimicking the EO process remains a key challenge for bone organoid research. To simulate this orderly mineralization process, we designed an in vitro shCav3.3 ATDC5-loaded gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel model and evaluated its bioprintability for future organoid construction. In this paper, we report the first demonstration that the T-type voltage-dependent calcium channel (T-VDCC) subtype Cav3.3 is dominantly expressed in chondrocytes and…

Polycaprolactone (PCL), either in its pure grade or as a polymeric matrix for bio-composites, plays a key role in the biomedical and bioengineering industries. It is also considered a multifunctional and versatile polymer for bioprinting and bioplotting purposes, especially in tissue engineering. Herein, an undiscovered yet valuable aspect of PCL extrusion-based bioprinting, such as the predictability of Critical Quality Indicators (CQIs), is investigated in depth. With the aid of the robust L25 orthogonal matrix design, the six most generic and device-independent control factors proved their impact on quality metrics such as global porosity, dimensional conformity, and surface roughness, determined with…