Journal
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
Volume 6, Issue 18, Pages 15998-16006Publisher
AMER CHEMICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1021/am503878d
Keywords
3D printing; alginate/polyacrylamide hydrogel; artificial meniscus; composite hydrogel; rule of mixtures
Funding
- Australian Research Council through the Centres of Excellence
- Australian Research Council through Australian Professorial Fellowship
- Australian Research Council through Future Fellowship
Ask authors/readers for more resources
An additive manufacturing process that combines digital modeling and 3D printing was used to prepare fiber reinforced hydrogels in a single-step process. The composite materials were fabricated by selectively pattering a combination of alginate/acrylamide gel precursor solution and an epoxy based UV-curable adhesive (Emax 904 Gel-SC) with an extrusion printer. UV irradiation was used to cure the two inks into a single composite material. Spatial control of fiber distribution within the digital models allowed for the fabrication of a series of materials with a spectrum of swelling behavior and mechanical properties with physical characteristics ranging from soft and wet to hard and dry. A comparison with the rule of mixtures was used to show that the swollen composite materials adhere to standard composite theory. A prototype meniscus cartilage was prepared to illustrate the potential application in bioengineering.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available