Abstract
In recent years, 3D printing has enabled the fabrication of complex designs, with low-cost customization and an ever-increasing range of materials. Yet, these abilities have also created an enormous challenge in optimizing a large number of process parameters, especially in the 3D printing of swellable, non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable materials, so-called bio-ink materials. In this work, a cellulose gel, made out of aqueous solutions of cellulose, sodium hydroxide and urea, was used to demonstrate the formation of a shear thinning bio-ink material necessary for an extrusion-based 3D printing. After analysing the shear thinning behaviour of the cellulose gel by rheometry a Design of Experiments (DoE) was applied to optimize the 3D bioprinter settings for printing the cellulose gel. The optimum print settings were then used to print a human ear shape, without a need for support material. The results clearly indicate that the found settings allow the printing of more complex parts with high-fidelity. This confirms the capability of the applied method to 3D print a newly developed bio-ink material.
Highlights
Bioprinting as a subsection of 3D printing has seen rapid and astonishing developments, and has been a major contributor towards the development of 3D printable natural materials and biopolymers, mostly in the form of hydrogels
In this work we will explore if the cellulose gel can be 3D printed using an extrusion based bioprinter to create three-dimensional objects and determine print related parameters of the biofabrication window
The solution was stored in a refrigerator at 5 ◦ C until used for printing or rheometry measurements. This formulation was decided upon from previous trial and error experimentation, altering the weight percentage of the cellulose added to solution. 15, and 25 wt.% cellulose solutions were prepared and extruded along a line from a 10 mL disposable syringe with 0.425 mm diameter and 0.5 mm length metal tip
Summary
Bioprinting as a subsection of 3D printing has seen rapid and astonishing developments, and has been a major contributor towards the development of 3D printable natural materials and biopolymers, mostly in the form of hydrogels In this case, the motivation for material development stems from a need for swellable, non-toxic, biocompatible and possible biodegradable materials known as bio-ink materials, as the main application of bioprinting has been in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine [4,5,6,7]. In this work we will explore if the cellulose gel can be 3D printed using an extrusion based bioprinter to create three-dimensional objects and determine print related parameters of the biofabrication window
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