scholarly journals Manufacturing of 3D-Printed Microfluidic Devices for the Synthesis of Drug-Loaded Liposomal Formulations

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8064
Author(s):  
Giulia Ballacchino ◽  
Edward Weaver ◽  
Essyrose Mathew ◽  
Rossella Dorati ◽  
Ida Genta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Encapsulation Efficiency ◽  
Liquid Crystal Display ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
In Vitro Release ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Ζ Potential ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
3D Printed

Microfluidic technique has emerged as a promising tool for the production of stable and monodispersed nanoparticles (NPs). In particular, this work focuses on liposome production by microfluidics and on factors involved in determining liposome characteristics. Traditional fabrication techniques for microfluidic devices suffer from several disadvantages, such as multistep processing and expensive facilities. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) has been revolutionary for microfluidic device production, boasting facile and low-cost fabrication. In this study, microfluidic devices with innovative micromixing patterns were developed using fused deposition modelling (FDM) and liquid crystal display (LCD) printers. To date, this work is the first to study liposome production using LCD-printed microfluidic devices. The current study deals with 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) liposomes with cholesterol (2:1) prepared using commercial and 3D-printed microfluidic devices. We evaluated the effect of microfluidic parameters, chip manufacturing, material, and channel design on liposomal formulation by analysing the size, PDI, and ζ-potential. Curcumin exhibits potent anticancer activity and it has been reported that curcumin-loaded liposomes formulated by microfluidics show enhanced encapsulation efficiency when compared with other reported systems. In this work, curcumal liposomes were produced using the developed microfluidic devices and particle sizing, ζ-potential, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release studies were performed at 37 °C.

scholarly journals Representative Volume Element (RVE) Analysis for Mechanical Characterization of Fused Deposition Modeled Components

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 3555
Author(s):  
Patrich Ferretti ◽  
Gian Maria Santi ◽  
Christian Leon-Cardenas ◽  
Elena Fusari ◽  
Giampiero Donnici ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Representative Volume Element ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Volume Element ◽  
Additive Manufacture ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Structural Element ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Representative Volume ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
3D Printed

Additive manufacturing processes have evolved considerably in the past years, growing into a wide range of products through the use of different materials depending on its application sectors. Nevertheless, the fused deposition modelling (FDM) technique has proven to be an economically feasible process turning additive manufacture technologies from consumer production into a mainstream manufacturing technique. Current advances in the finite element method (FEM) and the computer-aided engineering (CAE) technology are unable to study three-dimensional (3D) printed models, since the final result is highly dependent on processing and environment parameters. Because of that, an in-depth understanding of the printed geometrical mesostructure is needed to extend FEM applications. This study aims to generate a homogeneous structural element that accurately represents the behavior of FDM-processed materials, by means of a representative volume element (RVE). The homogenization summarizes the main mechanical characteristics of the actual 3D printed structure, opening new analysis and optimization procedures. Moreover, the linear RVE results can be used to further analyze the in-deep behavior of the FDM unit cell. Therefore, industries could perform a feasible engineering analysis of the final printed elements, allowing the FDM technology to become a mainstream, low-cost manufacturing process in the near future.

scholarly journals Glycyrrhetinic Acid Liposomes and Hyalurosomes on Spanish Broom, Flax, and Hemp Dressings to Heal Skin Wounds

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 2558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Abruzzo ◽  
Concettina Cappadone ◽  
Giovanna Farruggia ◽  
Barbara Luppi ◽  
Federica Bigucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Encapsulation Efficiency ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
In Vitro Release ◽  
Glycyrrhetinic Acid ◽  
Skin Wounds ◽  
Ζ Potential ◽  
Biological Studies ◽  
Vitro Release

The focus of this work was to prepare Spanish Broom, flax, and hemp dressings impregnated with glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) liposomes or hyalurosomes to promote the healing process and protect the skin wounds. Vesicles were prepared by the film hydration method and characterized in terms of size, particle size distribution, ζ potential, encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release, and biocompatibility on 3T3 fibroblasts. Loaded liposomes and hyalurosomes showed nanometric size (355 ± 19 nm and 424 ± 32 nm, respectively), good size distribution (lower than 0.3), and appropriate encapsulation efficiency (58.62 ± 3.25% and 59.22 ± 8.18%, respectively). Hyalurosomes showed good stability during the storage period, which can be correlated to the negative ζ potential, and allowed a fast and complete release of GA. Preliminary biological studies revealed that both kinds of loaded vesicles were not cytotoxic and that hyalurosomes could exert a slight stimulating effect on fibroblast proliferation. Finally, in vitro release studies from the different dressings impregnated with the loaded vesicles demonstrated that a high amount of GA could be reached at the wound site after 60 min from application. In conclusion, the results suggested that the developed dressings, especially those impregnated with hyalurosomes, can be efficiently used to promote the healing process.

scholarly journals Increasing the Tensile Strength of 3d printed Poly lactic Acid (PLA) Using Design of Experiments (DOE)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Tensile Strength ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Poly Lactic Acid ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Nozzle Temperature ◽  
Plastic Parts ◽  
Printing Speed

Experimental design has been used to determine outlying factors that affect tensile strength of fused deposition modelling 3D printed PLA parts. A two level, three factor full factorial experiments were utilized to determine the best combination of factors that yielded the highest tensile strength of PLA tensile dog bones manufactured in accordance with ASTM D638-14. PLA is particularly desirable due to its environmental friendliness, biodegradability, low cost, and low melting point, allowing it to be built on a non-heated platform without risk of toxic fumes. Increasing the tensile strength of PLA will allow PLA to be used in a wider range of applications that demand stronger plastic parts. The chosen factors were infill percentage, nozzle temperature, and printing speed. The tensile strength was affected by all factors and combinations except for high levels of infill percentage, nozzle temperature, and printing speed combined.

scholarly journals Optical characterization of 3D printed PLA and ABS filaments for diffuse optics applications

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253181
Author(s):  
Caterina Amendola ◽  
Michele Lacerenza ◽  
Ileana Pirovano ◽  
Davide Contini ◽  
Lorenzo Spinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ◽  
Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Diffuse Optics ◽  
Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
3D Printed

The interest for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) in the field of Diffuse Optics (DO) is rapidly increasing. The most widespread FDM materials are polylactic acid (PLA) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), thanks to their low cost and easiness-to-print. This is why, in this study, 3D printed samples of PLA and ABS materials were optically characterized in the range from the UV up to the IR wavelengths, in order to test their possible employment for probe construction in DO applications. To this purpose, measurements with Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy techniques were considered. The results obtained show how the material employed for probe construction can negatively affect the quality of DO measurements.

scholarly journals Study of Microchannels Fabricated Using Desktop Fused Deposition Modeling Systems

Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asif Ali Rehmani ◽  
Swapna A. Jaywant ◽  
Khalid Mahmood Arif
Keyword(s):  
Soft Lithography ◽  
Fused Deposition Modeling ◽  
Complex Geometry ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
Micro Features ◽  
Helical Microchannel

Microfluidic devices are used to transfer small quantities of liquid through micro-scale channels. Conventionally, these devices are fabricated using techniques such as soft-lithography, paper microfluidics, micromachining, injection moulding, etc. The advancement in modern additive manufacturing methods is making three dimensional printing (3DP) a promising platform for the fabrication of microfluidic devices. Particularly, the availability of low-cost desktop 3D printers can produce inexpensive microfluidic devices in fast turnaround times. In this paper, we explore fused deposition modelling (FDM) to print non-transparent and closed internal micro features of in-plane microchannels (i.e., linear, curved and spiral channel profiles) and varying cross-section microchannels in the build direction (i.e., helical microchannel). The study provides a comparison of the minimum possible diameter size, the maximum possible fluid flow-rate without leakage, and absorption through the straight, curved, spiral and helical microchannels along with the printing accuracy of the FDM process for two low-cost desktop printers. Moreover, we highlight the geometry dependent printing issues of microchannels, pressure developed in the microchannels for complex geometry and establish that the profiles in which flowrate generates 4000 Pa are susceptible to leakages when no pre or post processing in the FDM printed parts is employed.

Effect of Processing Parameters on Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Samples

2018 ◽  
Vol 919 ◽  
pp. 230-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaroslav Maloch ◽  
Eva Hnátková ◽  
Milan Žaludek ◽  
Petr Krátký
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Flexural Modulus ◽  
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Manufacturing Technologies ◽  
Functional Components

3D printing technology enables the production of functional components in small quantities which can be used as end-use parts. The mechanical properties of the final product define its quality and determine its success or failure in a given application. One at the various additive manufacturing technologies - Fused Deposition Modelling is very often used due to its relatively low cost and the availability of 3D printers and thermoplastic materials. During the process, there are many factors that can affect the mechanical properties of the final product. The temperature of the extrusion nozzle and the layer thickness are two of the basic process parameters. The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of these two processing parameters on the final mechanical properties of the 3D printed samples from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Mechanical testing includes the tensile and flexural strength, as well as tensile and flexural modulus.

scholarly journals On the Impact of the Fabrication Method on the Performance of 3D Printed Mixers

Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeraatkar ◽  
Filippini ◽  
Percoco
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Lab On A Chip ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Fabrication Method ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
The Impact

A wide variety of 3D printing technologies have been used for the fabrication of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices in recent years. Despite the large number of studies having examined the use of 3D printing technologies in microfluidic devices, the effect of the fabrication method on their performance has received little attention. In this paper, a comparison is shown between unibody-LOC micro-mixers, a particular type of monolithic design for 3D printed LOCs, fabricated in polyjet, stereolithography (SLA) and fused deposition modelling (FDM or FFF) platforms, paying particular attention to the inherent limitations of each fabrication platform and how these affect the performance of the manufactured devices.

scholarly journals Flexible grippers for industrial robots – comparison of features of low-cost 3D printed component

2019 ◽  
Vol 254 ◽  
pp. 02020
Author(s):  
Piotr Zbroja ◽  
Ksawery Szykiedans ◽  
Wojciech Credo
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Robot ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Selective Laser Sintering ◽  
Industrial Robots ◽  
Wear Behaviour ◽  
Fused Deposition Modelling ◽  
Test Machine ◽  
3D Print ◽  
Fused Deposition ◽  
3D Printed

The aim of presented work was to analyse the feasibility of using 3D-print technology in robotics based on the production of industrial robot flexible grippers. For selected geometry of gripper single finger available 3D printing techniques has been analysed. The study made by authors uses the following additive technologies and devices: SLS (Selective laser Sintering) and FDM (Fused deposition modelling). As a prior an analyses of capabilities of individual technologies were done by testing the quality of the 3D CAD model recreated on test print-outs. Based on the printed gripper, its functionality, and strength properties were examined. Strength of grapplers was tested with a use of an MTS test machine under repeating deflexion simulating standard operational cycle of a gripper. Test proved that at least few thousands of cycle are possible to be made by a 3D printed gripper. What interesting gripper made with use of the less advanced printer showed different wear behaviour than an one made on the more advanced. First one showed almost instantaneous start of slow and constant strength degradation while the second one proved to have a stable deflexional capability by almost twice an number of cycles. More isotropic structure of an SLS printed gripper caused the best results of all tested ones.

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