In:
Journal of Healthcare Engineering, Hindawi Limited, Vol. 2019 ( 2019-04-21), p. 1-9
Abstract:
Three-dimensional (3D) printing represents a key technology for rapid prototyping, allowing easy, rapid, and low-cost fabrication. In this work, 3D printing was applied for the in-house production of customized components of a mechanical stretching bioreactor with potential application for cardiac tissue engineering and mechanobiology studies. The culture chamber housing and the motor housing were developed as functional permanent parts, aimed at fixing the culture chamber position and at guaranteeing motor watertightness, respectively. Innovative sample holder prototypes were specifically designed and 3D-printed for holding thin and soft biological samples during cyclic stretch culture. The manufactured components were tested in-house and in a cell biology laboratory. Moreover, tensile tests and finite element analysis were performed to investigate the gripping performance of the sample holder prototypes. All the components showed suitable performances in terms of design, ease of use, and functionality. Based on 3D printing, the bioreactor optimization was completely performed in-house, from design to fabrication, enabling customization freedom, strict design-to-prototype timing, and cost and time effective testing, finally boosting the bioreactor development process.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2040-2295
,
2040-2309
DOI:
10.1155/2019/3957931
Language:
English
Publisher:
Hindawi Limited
Publication Date:
2019
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2545054-2
Permalink