3D Bioplotter Research Papers

This paper documents the results of an experiment conceived to explore and quantitatively assess the role of turbulent buffeting on the dynamics of a flexible filament exposed to airflow. In the experiment, a circular cross-section flexible filament was tested in a wind tunnel where the turbulence level was modified with a square-mesh grid. Measurements were carried out with and without the grid to assess the role of turbulent buffeting on the dynamics of the filament. A hot wire anemometer was used to measure the turbulent airflow, whilst fast video imaging was employed to resolve the filament motion in 3D. The…

Increased breast tissue stiffness is correlated with breast cancer risk and invasive cancer progression. However, its role in promoting bone metastasis, a major cause of mortality, is not yet understood. It is previously identified that the composition and stiffness of alginate-based hydrogels mimicking normal (1-2 kPa) and cancerous (6-10 kPa) breast tissue govern phenotype of breast cancer cells (including MDA-MB-231) in vitro. Here, to understand the causal effect of primary tumor stiffness on metastatic potential, a new breast-to-bone in vitro model is described. Together with alginate-gelatin hydrogels to mimic breast tissue, 3D printed biohybrid poly-caprolactone (PCL)-composite scaffolds, decellularized following bone-ECM…

The goal of cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) is to regenerate new hyaline cartilage in joints and treat osteoarthritis (OA) using cell-impregnated hydrogel constructs. However, the production of an extracellular matrix (ECM) made of fibrocartilage is a potential outcome within hydrogel constructs when in vivo. Unfortunately, this fibrocartilage ECM has inferior biological and mechanical properties when compared to native hyaline cartilage. It was hypothesized that compressive forces stimulate fibrocartilage development by increasing production of collagen type 1 (Col1), an ECM protein found in fibrocartilage. To test the hypothesis, 3-dimensional (3D)-bioprinted hydrogel constructs were fabricated from alginate hydrogel impregnated with ATDC5 cells…

Selective and rapid detection of ammonia gas over a wide concentration range is of great importance in many applications such as medical diagnostics and assessing perishable food quality and safety. One of the major obstacles in detection of ammonia is the selectivity and inhibiting the effect of other interfering gases such as carbon dioxide. In this work, we present a polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) coated paper-based sensor as an efficient multi-functional system for detection and differentiation of ammonia from carbon dioxide at high humidity levels ( > 85%) with distinctive resistivity behaviour. This sensor’s resistivity increases in the presence of CO2…

A myocardial infarction can cause irreversible damage to the heart muscle. A promising approach for the treatment of myocardial infarction and prevention of severe complications is the application of cardiac patches or epicardial restraint devices. The challenge for the fabrication of cardiac patches is the replication of the fibrillar structure of the myocardium, in particular its anisotropy and local elasticity. In this study, we developed a chitosan-gelatin-guar gum-based biomaterial ink that was fabricated using 3D printing to create patterned anisotropic membranes. The experimental results were then used to develop a numerical model able to predict the elastic properties of additional…

Visual sensors for relative humidity (RH) are of interest for distributed and autonomous environmental monitoring. Most of the visual humidity sensors are based on colorimetric sensing through the employment of hygroscopic inorganic pigments or photonic crystals (PCs). However, the toxicity of some inorganic pigments poses a risk to the environment especially if dispersed during in-situ measurements. On the other hand, the angle-dependent structural colours reading of the PCs, make these devices non suitable for autonomous and in-situ environmental monitoring. Here, we report the first visual humidity sensor using an artificial and hygroscopic seed-like robot (I-SeedPel) recently (2023) developed by our…

In this study, three-dimensional (3D) bioactive glass/lignocellulose (BG/cellulose) composite scaffolds were successfully fabricated by the 3D-bioprinting technique with N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) as the ink solvent. The physical structure, morphology, mechanical properties, hydroxyapatite growth and cell response to the prepared BG/cellulose scaffolds were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the BG/cellulose scaffolds had uniform macropores of less than 400 μm with very rough surfaces. Such BG/cellulose scaffolds have excellent mechanical performance to resist compressive force in comparison with pure cellulose scaffolds and satisfy the strength requirement of human trabecular bone (2-12 MPa). Furthermore, BG significantly increased the excellent hydroxyapatite-forming capability…

Three-dimensional (3D) printed skin substitutes have great potential for wound healing. However, current 3D printed skin models are limited in simulating heterogeneity and complexity of skin tissue due to the lack of customized bioinks optimized for different skin layers. Herein, different gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)/nano-cellulose (BNC) bioink formulations were used to develop heterogeneous tissue-engineered skin (HTS) containing layers of fibroblast networks with larger pores, basal layers with smaller pores, and multilayered keratinocytes. The results revealed that the 10%GelMA/0.3%BNC bioink was better to model bioprinted dermis due to its high printability and cell-friendly sparse microenvironment. Additionally, the 10%GelMA/1.5%BNC bioink as the basal…

BACKGROUND: High density polyethylene has been widely used as a repair material for cranial and maxillofacial bone defects, but its preparation method and surface activity still need further improvement. OBJECTIVE: To optimize the preparation method of high density polyethylene and improve the surface activity of high density polyethylene. METHODS: The high density polyethylene scaffolds were prepared by extrusion 3D printing technology, and the scaffolds were immersed in dopamine solution and simulated body fluid successively to be coated with polydopamine and hydroxyapatite. The microstructure, hydrophilicity and compression modulus of the scaffolds before and after coating were characterized. Mouse embryonic osteogenic precursor…

[The ability to process hydrogels through 3D printing is very interesting in various areas of health. For this reason, the use of hydrogels has been proposed to create printed medicines. However, unlike tissue engineering applications, pharmaceutical printing requires more precise control throughout the process. In this work, we use the rheological aspects of the material and the process to establish the printing conditions required to obtain printed medicines. To do this, we use hydrogels mixed with drugs and analyze their properties in terms of fluidity and viscoelasticity. Finally, an attempt has been made to predict the printing parameters used through…