3D Bioplotter Research Papers

3D printing is used to fabricate tissue scaffolds. The polymer chains in these objects are typically unoriented. The mechanical properties of these scaffolds can be significantly enhanced by proper alignment of the polymer chains. But, post-processing routes to increase orientation can be limited by the geometry of the printed object. Here we show that it is possible to orient the polymer chains during printing by optimizing the printing parameters to take advantage of the flow characteristics of the polymer. This is demonstrated by printing a polymeric scaffold for meniscus regeneration using poly(desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine dodecyl dodecanedioate), poly(DTD DD). Alignment of the polymer…

Information from the brain travels back and forth along peripheral nerves in the form of electrical impulses generated by neurons and these impulses have repetitive patterns. Schwann cells in peripheral nerves receive molecular signals from axons to coordinate the process of myelination. There is evidence, however, that non-molecular signals play an important role in myelination in the form of patterned electrical impulses generated by neuronal activity. The role of patterned electrical impulses has been investigated in the literature using co-cultures of neurons and myelinating cells. The co-culturing method, however, prevents the uncoupling of the direct effect of patterned electrical impulses…