About this Abstract |
Meeting |
MS&T23: Materials Science & Technology
|
Symposium
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3D Printing of Biomaterials and Devices
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Presentation Title |
Multi-axis Melt Electrowriting Fabrication of Membranes with Curving Surfaces Using Novel Biomaterials |
Author(s) |
Javier Vazquez-Armendariz, Raquel Tejeda-Alejandre, Anuja S. Kulkarni, Davita L. Watkins, Katelyn E. Swindle-Reilly, Ciro A. Rodriguez, David Dean |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Javier Vazquez-Armendariz |
Abstract Scope |
In recent years, tissue engineering (TE) has benefited from the development of biomaterials and additive manufacturing (AM) processes to fabricate scaffolds. One of the most novel is Melt Electrowriting (MEW), an electrohydrodynamic polymer-based technique that enables the biofabrication of thin membranes composed of woven fibers at a micro-scale with significantly higher resolution than conventional AM processes. We have extended the capabilities of MEW from the current limitations imposed by flat or straight tube collectors to anatomically-relevant collectors with curving surfaces (e.g., semi-spherical corneal and non-circular, curving, and bifurcating vascular grafts). To do so, we have demonstrated a novel 4-axis (XYZ-B) MEW device. While most MEW research relies on polycaprolactone, we are investigating new biomaterials to get shorter degradation times that provide optimal biomechanical and resorption profiles. We will present the challenges of investigating new biomaterials for MEW, as well as the approach behind the multi-axis kinematics to achieve the fabrication. |