A research group from the University of Manchester has used wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) in one of the first studies to investigate the evolution of crystallinity and crystal orientation in polycaprolactone (PCL) during 3D printing.
The team has developed a new extrusion-based printing machine, the Plasma-assisted Bioextrusion System (PABS). Extrusion-based techniques are widely used due to their versatility and simplicity, and their ability to print a range of materials in a cell-friendly environment, with high precision. PABS uses a novel approach for biomanufacturing and tissue engineering, combining screw-assisted extrusion, pressure-assisted extrusion and plasma jetting.
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Figure: Conceptual material transition from extrusion-based filament printing to the partial replacement of a knee joint via 3D scaffolding.
Credit: Fengyuan Liu, Wajira Mirihanage, Paulo Bartolo, Medical Engineering Research Centre, the University of Manchester