Rheological Study of Highly Thixotropic Hydrogels for 3D BioPrinting Processes

Abstract

The promising success of 3D printing technique with synthetic polymers like nylon, ABS, PLA and epoxy motivates the researchers to put efforts into fabricating constructs with biocompatible natural polymers. The efforts have been broadened into various fields such as bioengineering, manufacturing, and regenerative medicine. Additive biomanufacturing commonly known as 3D bioprinting shows a lot of potential in tissue engineering with those natural polymers. Some challenges such as achieving printability, maintaining geometry in post printing stage, comforting encapsulated cells, and ensuring high proliferation are to be resolved to turn this process into a successful trial. Appropriate design of experiments with a detail rheological investigation can identify useful mechanical properties which is directly related to shape fidelity of 3D bio-printed scaffolds. As candidate natural polymers, Alginate-low viscous Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) was used restricting the solid content 8% (w/v). Various rheological tests, such as the Steady Rate Sweep Test, Thixotropic (3ITT), Amplitude, and Frequency test were performed. The result indicated that rheological properties are CMC dependent. Printability and shape fidelity were analyzed of the filaments and scaffolds fabricated with all the combinations. The rheological results were co-related with the printability and shape fidelity result.

Publication Date

8-1-2021

Journal Title

Proceedings of the 2021 IISE Annual Virtual Conference

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

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