Abstract
Abstract Digital Light Processing (DLP) enables high precision 3D-printing of photopolymers and holds promising potential for patient-specific implant solutions. On the material side, Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) has emerged as an interesting material for use in biomedical applications. For adequate photopolymerization, a photoinitiator and a light absorber are necessary, using welldefined concentrations. This study shows preliminary results of DLP 3D-printing of different PEGDA hydrogel compositions with varying water content (90; 70; 50; 30; 10; 0 % w/w) as well as varying concentrations of a photoinitiator and a light absorber. Printing performance and accuracy are investigated by printing rectangular test samples as well as an anatomically customised tubular frontal sinus implant prototype. For basic mechanical characterisation, the hardness of the printed hydrogels is investigated using a Shore A durometer. The results show a decrease in printing accuracy and hardness with an increasing water content of the composition. There is a need to use a light absorber to reach high printing accuracy. This leads to a need for increasing photoinitiator concentration and prolonged light exposure to achieve proper printing performance.
Highlights
The technology of 3D printing holds promising potential for patient-specific implant solutions and prosthetics, as well as tissue engineering and bioprinting applications
The current study focuses on a Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing process using Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-based hydrogels in combination with LAP and Orange G dye
PEGDA material composition c1 with water contents of 70, 50, 30 and 10 % w/w have been successfully cured in a DLP 3D printing process
Summary
The technology of 3D printing holds promising potential for patient-specific implant solutions and prosthetics, as well as tissue engineering and bioprinting applications. Photopolymerization 3D printing techniques such as Stereolithography (STL) or Digital Light Processing (DLP) solidify liquid photopolymers via light exposure, using a laser beam or a DLP projector respectively. They can be seen as methods offering the highest printing accuracy and precision [1]. Photopolymerization 3D printing has minimal thermal impact on the photopolymers and enables extensive control over the polymerising process by means of varying the light exposing parameters as well as the material composition. Those possibilities are very beneficial in the context of establishing 3D printing processes for drug eluting devices
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