3D Bioplotter Research Papers

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an emerging process to fabricate net shape, intricate, engineering components with minimal material waste; however, traditionally it has been largely applied to structural materials. AM of functional materials, such as magnetic materials, has received much less attention and the field is still in its infancy. To date, AM of magnetocaloric regenerators for magnetic refrigeration (an energy-efficient alternative to the conventional vapor-compression cooling technology), remains a challenge. There are several magnetic refrigerator device designs in existence today that are predicted to be highly energy-efficient, on condition that suitable working materials can be developed. This challenge in manufacturing…

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is regarded as a critical technology in material engineering for biomedical applications. From a previous report, silk fibroin (SF) has been used as a biomaterial for tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity and robust mechanical properties which provide a potential as material for 3D-printing. In this study, SF-based hydrogels with different formulations and SF concentrations (1-3%wt) were prepared by natural gelation (SF/self-gelled) and sodium tetradecyl sulfate- induced (SF/STS). From the results, 2%wt SF-based (2SF) hydrogels showed suitable properties for extrusion, such as storage modulus, shear-thinning behavior and degree of structure recovery. The 4-layer box structure…

A recent development in biomedical research might hold the key to a successful revival of damaged cardiac tissue after Myocardial Infarction (MI): Cardiac patches are functioningcardiac tissue constructs, grown in-vitro, to replace and support the patient’s diseased tissue.The aim is to bridge mechanical and electrical stimulations and provide a stable substrate forcell-attachment and cell-growth. Scaffolds from biocompatible and biodegradable polymerslike polycaprolactone (PCL) provide good mechanical stability, but rarely provide the desired bioactive properties for tissue engineering. The solution for a successful patch might be the combination of hydrogel encapsulated cells with a stable polymer scaffold, to obtain a composite biomaterial.Certain…

Within this work we applied the principles of biomimicry to develop printable and injectable gealtine-based bio-hybrid inks to target the regeneration of three different tissues: chondral tissue, bone tissue and neural tissue. Starting by the same natural biopolymer, gelatine, derived by hydrolysis of collagen, the main human body extra-cellular matrix (ECM) constituent, we exploited different process technologies, functionalization, and crosslinking techniques to develop devices suitable for the targeted tissues engineering. More specifically, we performed a process comparison among two process technology, three-dimensional printing, and mould casting, for the realization of three-dimensional scaffolds for chondral regeneration. We developed nano-hydroxyapatites (nHAs) functionalized…

Hypertrophic scars (HS) is one of the most cutaneous complications in wound and burn rehabilitation. In China, over 350,00 burn injuries require hospitalisation every year. Due to the dark red, raised and high vascularity appearance of HS, it can be differentiated from healthy skin obviously. The unique appearance may affect self-esteem and quality of life of the patients or even cause psychological complications. Apart from the aesthetic aspect, HS may also associate with pain, itchiness, pruritus and erythema. If rigid HS is close to a joint, it may result in joint contracture, affecting the range of motion of body. As…

Population aging is a process that is becoming more pronounced as the years go by. The results presented by the European Statistical Office predicted that by the year 2050, 30% of the population will be over 65 years of age and this leads to a high rate of bone conditions such as fractures, bone defects, osteoporosis and bone infections that require surgical intervention. The procedure to treat these conditions consists of performing autografts or implanting metal alloys coated with various compounds. However, autologous implants generate morbidity in the donor region and metallic implants are easily contaminated during surgery, leading to…

With a huge global market of over $ 3.7 billion annually and employment in more than 12 million procedures per year, sutures are one of the most widely used medical devices of the day. Yet, the ideal suture material does not exist, and surgeons battle on a daily basis with the various complications caused by these key medical devices. The ideal suture should create an environment that not only supports, but also encourages wound healing by delicately approximating the wound edges without contributing to the damage and inflammatory activity of the wound. Regrettably, most suture materials have no inherent therapeutic…

Pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFDs) are a series of pathological conditions affecting a significant portion of women worldwide, with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) being one of the most common among those disorders. POP, which consists in the descendance of pelvic organs from their physiological position, may be managed with surgical and non-surgical approaches, with the latter implying the use of meshes which are employed to confer more support to weak tissues and to put back in place the prolapsed parts. However, the significant number of post-operative complications correlated to the use of meshes, required a strict action from different regulatory organs,…

Generally, the major hand functional assistance is essential and indispensable aid to support for patients in their activities of daily living (ADL). For several years, flexible soft fingers have been used to aid patients who have survived from the neurological diseases resulted in muscular disorders, nerve damages, such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Meanwhile, it has been used to support muscle inflammatory symptoms like de Quervain and trigger on fingers. This work proposed the model of soft robot that manufactured by full 3D printing without the molding process and a single material was used. Additionally, the model was designed using…

Tissue-engineered ear cartilage scaffold based on three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology presents a new strategy for ear reconstruction in individuals with microtia. Natural hydrogel is a promising material due to its excellent biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. However, insufficient mechanical property required for cartilage is one of the major issues pending to be solved. In this study, the gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel reinforced with bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) was developed to enhance the biomechanical properties and printability of the hydrogel. The results revealed that the addition of 0.375% BNC significantly increased the mechanical properties of the hydrogel and promoted cell migration in the…