Title: Fabrication of biodegradable, porous scaffolds using a low-cost 3D printer

Authors: Philipp Drescher; Sebastian Spath; Hermann Seitz

Addresses: University of Rostock, Fluid Technology and Microfluidics, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany ' University of Rostock, Fluid Technology and Microfluidics, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany ' University of Rostock, Fluid Technology and Microfluidics, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany

Abstract: A low-cost 3D printer was used to generate porous biopolymer scaffolds. Scaffolds with various interconnected pores were designed and built on an open-source fused deposition modelling (FDM) system 'RepRap Mendel'. The scaffolds were analysed in accordance with feasibility, geometrical accuracy, and quality. REM images were taken for visual investigation and the results were qualitatively compared with industrial FDM systems. The results have shown that highly porous scaffolds with different pore geometries and sizes can be achieved with a low-cost printer. This paper also describes the potential application for the manufacture of scaffolds with a low-cost FDM machine and its limitations.

Keywords: additive manufacturing; FDM; fused deposition modelling; low-cost; biopolymers; scaffold fabrication; biodegradable scaffolds; porous scaffolds; 3D printing; tissue engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAPIDM.2014.066035

International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing, 2014 Vol.4 No.2/3/4, pp.140 - 147

Received: 26 Feb 2014
Accepted: 10 Jul 2014
Published online: 30 Nov 2014 *

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