Design and Construction of a Novel Micro-Extrusion System for Bio-printing Applications

Three-dimensional (3d) bio-printing is one of the major research fields of future, as yet at the beginning stage but producing promising solutions in medicine. As technology evolves, novel systems emerge for positioning even a single cell to the desired place to create functional tissues. The precision of these systems determine the functionality of outputs. In general, bio-printers use Ink-jet, Micro-extrusion and Laser Assisted printing methods to construct a solid tissue or a part of an organ. Ink-jet method, also known as drop-on-demand bio-printing approach, is based on spraying cells by means of thermal or piezo electric pulses from numerous nozzles and is commonly used when forming tissues like skin and cartilage. Micro-extrusion method is used when complex biological structures like blood vessels or solid organs are bio-printed. Laser Assisted method is more preferred for biomaterial or implant production. Components of these systems have direct effects on the output since they determine where and how much biological material will be deposited in every layer. The aim of this study is to design and construct a novel micro-extrusion module for bio-printing applications. The designed module consists of three-dimensional (3d) printed body parts from Polylactic acid (PLA), Nema type stepper motors, ball screws (SFU1204), ball screw nuts (M12), flexible couplings (5 x 8 x 25 mm), steel rods (M8), SCE UU series bearings (SCE 8 UU), UFL series bearings (UFL 08), LMEF series bearings (LMEF 8 UU), SK series rod holders (SK 08) and has an ability to control three commercially available syringes with blunt ended needles. For precise micro-extrusion, galvanized steel rods support ball screw driven linear motions. Ergonomically, syringes can be easily mount and locked and this system also has laser holders that can be used for targeted photo polymerization.

___

  • Murphy S. V. and Atala A. 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs, Nature biotechnology, Vol. 32, pp. 773-785.
  • Hutchings I. M. and Martin G. D. Inkjet technology for digital fabrication. Chichester: Wiley, 2013.
  • Aydın L., Küçük S., and Kenar H. Design and construction of a 3d bioprinter for bioprinting of tissues and organs, Proceedings on the Tıp Tekno 15, 2015, pp. 153-157.
  • Chen H. and Özbolat İ. A multi-material bioprinting platform towards stratified articular cartilage tissue fabrication, Proceedings on the IIE Annual Conference, 2013, pp. 2246-2252.
  • Panwar A. and Tan L. P. Current Status of Bioinks for Micro-Extrusion-Based 3D Bioprinting, Molecules, 2016, 21.6: 685.
  • Aydın L. Design and construction of ankle foot orthosis by means of three dimensional printers, M.S. thesis, Dept. Biomed. Eng., Kocaeli Univ., Kocaeli, Turkey, 2014.
  • Akashi M., Akagi T. and Matsusaki M. Engineered Cell Manipulation for Biomedical Application, Springer Japan, 2014.
  • Visscher D.O., et al. Advances in Bioprinting Technologies for Craniofacial Reconstruction, Trends in biotechnology, 2016.
  • Obregon F., et al. Three-dimensional bioprinting for regenerative dentistry and craniofacial tissue engineering, Journal of Dental Research, 2015.
  • Ozbolat I. T. and Hospodiuk M. Current advances and future perspectives in extrusion-based bioprinting, Biomaterials, Vol. 76, pp. 321-343.
  • Blaeser A., et al. Controlling shear stress in 3D bioprinting is a key factor to balance printing resolution and stem cell integrity, Advanced healthcare materials, Vol. 5(3), pp. 326-333.
  • Ferris C. J., Gilmore K. G. and Wallace G. G. Biofabrication: an overview of the approaches used for printing of living cells, Applied microbiology and biotechnology, Vol. 97(10), pp. 4243-4258.
  • Aydın L. and Kenar H. Design and construction of a compact micro-extrusion module for bio-printing, TPE 2016/07571, June. 06, 2016.