Supercritical Impregnation of PLA Filaments with Mango Leaf Extract to Manufacture Functionalized Biomedical Devices by 3D Printing

Polylactic Acid (PLA) filaments impregnated with ethanolic mango leaves extract (MLE) with pharmacological properties were obtained by supercritical impregnation. The effects of pressure, temperature and amount of extract on the response variables, i.e., swelling, extract loading and bioactivity of the PLA filaments, were determined. The analysis of the filaments biocapacities revealed that impregnated PLA filaments showed 11.07% antidenaturant capacity and 88.13% antioxidant activity, which after a 9-day incubation shifted to 30.10% and 9.90%, respectively. Subsequently, the same tests were conducted on printed samples. Before their incubation, the printed samples showed 79.09% antioxidant activity and no antidenaturant capacity was detected. However, after their incubation, the antioxidant activity went down to only 2.50%, while the antidenaturant capacity raised up to 23.50%. The persistence of the bioactive properties after printing opens the possibility of using the functionalized PLA filaments as the feed for a three-dimensional (3D) printer.

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Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid Using a New 3D Printer Nozzle

Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience ◽

10.1166/jctn.2018.7142 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 666-675

Author(s):

Nor Aiman Sukindar ◽

Mohd Khairol Anuar Mohd Ariffin ◽

B. T. Hang Tuah Baharudin ◽

Che Nor Aiza Jaafar ◽

Mohd Idris Shah Ismail

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

3D Printing ◽

Polylactic Acid ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Extrusion Process ◽

3D Printer ◽

Layer By Layer ◽

The Stability ◽

Stability And Accuracy

Additive manufacturing, also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, is the process of developing 3D products in a layer-by-layer manner using filament as a material feedstock to create a solid structure. Owing to its unique properties and advantages, which include biodegradability and printing speed, polylactic acid is one of the most common 3D printing extrusion materials. While a considerable attention has been paid to the manipulation of process parameters in order to achieve desired finished product quality, to date less research has been performed on improving the hardware systems of low-cost 3D printers. This study focuses on fabricating the 3D printer nozzle parts, with an emphasis on die angle, nozzle diameter, liquefier design, and insulator composition. Modifying the properties of these components from the conventional nozzle, it is possible to optimize the stability and accuracy of the extrusion process, leading to better-quality printed products. To demonstrate the capability of the new nozzle, its tensile and compressive strengths were compared to those of a conventional nozzle. The obtained results proved that the proposed augmentations to the nozzle system lead to finished products with improved mechanical properties.

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Efficient 3D printing via photooxidation of ketocoumarin based photopolymerization

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-23170-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xiaoyu Zhao ◽

Ye Zhao ◽

Ming-De Li ◽

Zhong’an Li ◽

Haiyan Peng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Additive Manufacturing ◽

3D Printing ◽

Visible Light ◽

Light Exposure ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

3D Printer ◽

Light Penetration ◽

Viable Solution

AbstractPhotopolymerization-based three-dimensional (3D) printing can enable customized manufacturing that is difficult to achieve through other traditional means. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to achieve efficient 3D printing due to the compromise between print speed and resolution. Herein, we report an efficient 3D printing approach based on the photooxidation of ketocoumarin that functions as the photosensitizer during photopolymerization, which can simultaneously deliver high print speed (5.1 cm h−1) and high print resolution (23 μm) on a common 3D printer. Mechanistically, the initiating radical and deethylated ketocoumarin are both generated upon visible light exposure, with the former giving rise to rapid photopolymerization and high print speed while the latter ensuring high print resolution by confining the light penetration. By comparison, the printed feature is hard to identify when the ketocoumarin encounters photoreduction due to the increased lateral photopolymerization. The proposed approach here provides a viable solution towards efficient additive manufacturing by controlling the photoreaction of photosensitizers during photopolymerization.

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Research on the printing error of tilted vertical beams in delta-robot 3D printers

Rapid Prototyping Journal ◽

10.1108/rpj-03-2020-0052 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Yuezong Wang ◽

Jinghui Liu ◽

Mengfei Guo ◽

LiuQIan Wang

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Kinematic Model ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

3D Printer ◽

Simulation Approach ◽

Content Type ◽

Printing Quality ◽

Delta Robot ◽

Error Generation ◽

Error Simulation

Purpose A three-dimensional (3D) printing error simulation approach is proposed to analyze the influence of tilted vertical beams on the 3D printing accuracy. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of such errors on printing accuracy and printing quality for delta-robot 3D printer. Design/methodology/approach First, the kinematic model of a delta-robot 3D printer with an ideal geometric structure is proposed by using vector analysis. Then, the normal kinematic model of a nonideal delta-robot 3D robot with tilted vertical beams is derived based on the above ideal kinematic model. Finally, a 3D printing error simulation approach is proposed to analyze the influence of tilted vertical beams on the 3D printing accuracy. Findings The results show that tilted vertical beams can indeed cause 3D printing errors and further influence the 3D printing quality of the final products and that the 3D printing errors of tilted vertical beams are related to the rotation angles of the tilted vertical beams. The larger the rotation angles of the tilted vertical beams are, the greater the geometric deformations of the printed structures. Originality/value Three vertical beams and six horizontal beams constitute the supporting parts of the frame of a delta-robot 3D printer. In this paper, the orientations of tilted vertical beams are shown to have a significant influence on 3D printing accuracy. However, the effect of tilted vertical beams on 3D printing accuracy is difficult to capture by instruments. To reveal the 3D printing error mechanisms under the condition of tilted vertical beams, the error generation mechanism and the quantitative influence of tilted vertical beams on 3D printing accuracy are studied by simulating the parallel motion mechanism of a delta-robot 3D printer with tilted vertical beams.

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Implementing a 3D printing service in a biomedical library

Journal of the Medical Library Association JMLA ◽

10.5195/jmla.2017.107 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 105 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Verma Walker, MLIS

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

3D Printing ◽

3D Modeling ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

National Institutes Of Health ◽

3D Printer ◽

Service Model ◽

Steep Learning Curve ◽

3D Printers ◽

Creative Problem

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is opening new opportunities in biomedicine by enabling creative problem solving, faster prototyping of ideas, advances in tissue engineering, and customized patient solutions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Library purchased a Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printer to give scientists a chance to try out this technology. To launch the service, the library offered training, conducted a survey on service model preferences, and tracked usage and class attendance. 3D printing was very popular, with new lab equipment prototypes being the most common model type. Most survey respondents indicated they would use the service again and be willing to pay for models. There was high interest in training for 3D modeling, which has a steep learning curve. 3D printers also require significant care and repairs. NIH scientists are using 3D printing to improve their research, and it is opening new avenues for problem solving in labs. Several scientists found the 3D printer so helpful they bought one for their labs. Having a printer in a central and open location like a library can help scientists, doctors, and students learn how to use this technology in their work.

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Design and implementation of a three dimensions (3D) printer for modeling and pre-manufacturing applications

International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE) ◽

10.11591/ijece.v9i6.pp4749-4757 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 4749

Author(s):

Ghazi Qaryouti ◽

Abdel Rahman Salbad ◽

Sohaib A. Tamimi ◽

Anwar Almofleh ◽

Wael A. Salah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Manufacturing Sector ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

3D Printer ◽

Overall Design ◽

Design And Implementation ◽

Manufacturing Applications ◽

Functional Components

The three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies represent a revolution in the manufacturing sector due to their unique characteristics. These printers arecapable to increase the productivitywithlower complexity in addition tothe reduction inmaterial waste as well the overall design cost prior large scalemanufacturing.However, the applications of 3D printing technologies for the manufacture of functional components or devices remain an almost unexplored field due to their high complexity. In this paper the development of 3D printing technologies for the manufacture of functional parts and devices for different applications is presented. The use of 3D printing technologies in these applicationsis widelyused in modelingdevices usually involves expensive materials such as ceramics or compounds. The recent advances in the implementation of 3D printing with the use of environmental friendly materialsin addition to the advantages ofhighperformance and flexibility. The design and implementation of relatively low-cost and efficient 3D printer is presented. The developed prototype was successfully operated with satisfactory operated as shown from the printed samples shown.

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Effects of Nozzle Die Angle on Extruding Polymethylmethacrylate in Open-Source 3D Printing

Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience ◽

10.1166/jctn.2018.7141 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 663-665 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nor Aiman Sukindar ◽

Mohd Khairol Anuar Mohd Ariffin ◽

B.T. Hang Tuah Baharudin ◽

Che Nor Aiza Jaafar ◽

Mohd Idris Shah Ismail

Keyword(s):

Finite Element Analysis ◽

Finite Element ◽

Pressure Drop ◽

3D Printing ◽

Open Source ◽

Flow Behavior ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

3D Printer ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Factors Affecting

Open-source 3D printer has been widely used for fabricating three dimensional products. However, this technology has some drawbacks that need to be improved such as accuracy of the finished parts. One of the factors affecting the final product is the ability of the machine to extrude the material consistently, which is related to the flow behavior of the material inside the liquefier. This paper observes the pressure drop along the liquefier by manipulating the nozzle die angle from 80° to 170° using finite element analysis (FEA) for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) material. When the pressure drop along the liquefier is varied, the printed product also varies, thus providing less accuracy in the finished parts. Based on the FEA, it was found that 130° was the optimum die angle (convergent angle) for extruding PMMA material using open-source 3D printing.

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A Printable Device for Measuring Clarity and Colour in Lake and Nearshore Waters

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19040936 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 936 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Robert Brewin ◽

Thomas Brewin ◽

Joseph Phillips ◽

Sophie Rose ◽

Anas Abdulaziz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Citizen Science ◽

Scientific Discovery ◽

Low Cost ◽

Secchi Depth ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Water Clarity ◽

3D Printer ◽

Satellite Validation ◽

Wide Range

Two expanding areas of science and technology are citizen science and three-dimensional (3D) printing. Citizen science has a proven capability to generate reliable data and contribute to unexpected scientific discovery. It can put science into the hands of the citizens, increasing understanding, promoting environmental stewardship, and leading to the production of large databases for use in environmental monitoring. 3D printing has the potential to create cheap, bespoke scientific instruments that have formerly required dedicated facilities to assemble. It can put instrument manufacturing into the hands of any citizen who has access to a 3D printer. In this paper, we present a simple hand-held device designed to measure the Secchi depth and water colour (Forel Ule scale) of lake, estuarine and nearshore regions. The device is manufactured with marine resistant materials (mostly biodegradable) using a 3D printer and basic workshop tools. It is inexpensive to manufacture, lightweight, easy to use, and accessible to a wide range of users. It builds on a long tradition in optical limnology and oceanography, but is modified for ease of operation in smaller water bodies, and from small watercraft and platforms. We provide detailed instructions on how to build the device and highlight examples of its use for scientific education, citizen science, satellite validation of ocean colour data, and low-cost monitoring of water clarity, colour and temperature.

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Three-Dimensional Printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) Surgical Retractors with Sonochemically Immobilized Silver Nanoparticles: The Next Generation of Low-Cost Antimicrobial Surgery Equipment

Nanomaterials ◽

10.3390/nano10050985 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 985 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Lazaros Tzounis ◽

Petros I. Bangeas ◽

Aristomenis Exadaktylos ◽

Markos Petousis ◽

Nectarios Vidakis

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

3D Printing ◽

Polylactic Acid ◽

Low Cost ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Film Deposition ◽

Average Particle ◽

Ag Nps ◽

Fused Deposition ◽

Vis Spectroscopy

A versatile method is reported for the manufacturing of antimicrobial (AM) surgery equipment utilising fused deposition modelling (FDM), three-dimensional (3D) printing and sonochemistry thin-film deposition technology. A surgical retractor was replicated from a commercial polylactic acid (PLA) thermoplastic filament, while a thin layer of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) was developed via a simple and scalable sonochemical deposition method. The PLA retractor covered with Ag NPs (PLA@Ag) exhibited vigorous AM properties examined by a reduction in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria viability (%) experiments at 30, 60 and 120 min duration of contact (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the surface morphology of bare PLA and PLA@Ag retractor, revealing a homogeneous and full surface coverage of Ag NPs. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the crystallinity of Ag nanocoating. Ultraviolent-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) highlighted the AgNP plasmonic optical responses and average particle size of 31.08 ± 6.68 nm. TEM images of the PLA@Ag crossection demonstrated the thickness of the deposited Ag nanolayer, as well as an observed tendency of AgNPs to penetrate though the outer surface of PLA. The combination of 3D printing and sonochemistry technology could open new avenues in the manufacturing of low-cost and on-demand antimicrobial surgery equipment.

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The history of 3D printing in healthcare

Bulletin of The Royal College of Surgeons of England ◽

10.1308/147363514x13990346756481 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 96 (7) ◽

pp. 228-229 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Matthew Whitaker

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

3D Printer ◽

Three Dimensional Objects ◽

History Of

On 8 August 1984, Charles W ‘Chuck’ Hull filed US patent number US4575330 A, for Apparatus for production of three-dimensional objects by stereolithography. 1 Chuck’s apparatus was, in effect, the world’s first 3D printer.

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