3D printing-assisted design of scaffold structures

Abstract

Rapid prototyping has emerged as a very auspicious manufacturing method of fabricating tissue engineering scaffolds. Using a 3D CAD design, the 3D printer features the ability of producing the predetermined forms and structures with very high level of accuracy and repeatability. Additionally, the 3D-printed tissue scaffolds are meant to act as replaceable constructs in a very demanding environment. The challenging conditions of the human body set high criteria demands that the scaffold should be capable of fulfilling. One of the most crucial demands is the capability of the scaffold to exhibit the desired mechanical properties depending on the loading conditions that it must cope up against. A mechanical property investigation of different scaffold designs can provide crucial information concerning this key factor in the criteria profile of a functional scaffold design. The target of the present study is to compare the mechanical properties of different scaffold designs that, however, feature same porosity and similar dimensions. Compressive strength testing was conducted in three 3D-printed scaffold designs. Also, a finite element study was conducted, simulating the compressive strength testing. The results of the compression testing experiment were found to be in good agreement with the computational analysis results. Furthermore, a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation was conducted in order to look into the fluid shear stress inside the scaffold. Finally, the properties of the biomaterial hydroxyapatite were used in order to investigate the compressive and shear mechanical behavior of the aforementioned designs by conducting a finite element study.

Trinity of Three-Dimensional (3D) Scaffold, Vibration, and 3D Printing on Cell Culture Application: A Systematic Review and Indicating Future Direction

“…According to literature studies [ 2 , 17 , 18 , 33 , 34 ], both traditional methods and novel technologies have been used for fabricating 3D scaffold. One common approach to distinguish this could be through judging whether the computer-assisted design (CAD) process is utilized.…”

“…Geometrics have been considered as the one chief important factor affecting the general functions of the 3D scaffold [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Several concepts that are related with geometries and pore, namely pore size, distribution, and association, could participate the definition, classification, and analysis of mainstream 3D scaffold [ 17 , 18 , 20 , 21 ]. First, pore size is generally considered as the diameter circumscribing the pores.…”

“…The third category of scaffold is defined by association, which generally means the combination of different shape pores, such as circular and square pores or square and octagonal pores. When it comes to the primal effect of geometrics on cells, geometric control leads to tailored surface topography as well as 3D culturing architectures that help tailored modulation on cell behaviors [ 15 , 17 , 18 , 25 ]. In addition, two types of architectures, namely the isotropic or anisotropic ones, have been chiefly applied on the 3D scaffold; both provide specific stimulations on cells as well as various mechanics on scaffold structures [ 13 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…Scaffold’s mechanical properties can be chiefly affected by feature size, structure architecture, and fabrication materials. According to studies [ 2 , 13 , 17 , 26 ], physiological processes can be affected significantly by mechanical properties inside cellular environments; these mechanical properties can cause pathological events and affect cells’ behaviors regarding differentiation and growing rate, etc. Mechanical properties of 3D scaffold in general are tissue dependent, with stiffness of tissue ranging from 0.1–3 kPa to intermediate stiffness 8–17 kPa and to higher.…”

Design and Analysis of Fused Deposition Modeling 3D Printer Nozzle for Color Mixing

“…The shortcomings of the device are analyzed and summarized. the guide rail to realize the function of continuous print [17][18][19]. In order to ensure the mixing of filaments in the heating block, a larger heating block cavity is needed to meet the actual requirements.…”