Session: 17-01-01: Research Posters

Paper Number: 147221

147221 - Design and Fabrication of Silicone-Based Bioscaffolds Using Additive Manufacturing 

Organ reconstruction has emerged as a promising field in regenerative medicine, offering the potential to repair and replace damaged or diseased tissues. Bioscaffolds, three-dimensional structures that mimic the natural extracellular matrix, play a critical role in this process by providing a temporary framework for cell attachment, growth, and tissue formation. Silicone materials, specifically Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and room-temperature-vulcanizing (RTV) silicone rubber, are frequently chosen for bioscaffold fabrication due to their biocompatibility and the ability to tailor their mechanical properties. However, a significant challenge arises when fabricating silicone bioscaffolds – maintaining dimensional stability and accuracy during the uncured stage. Silicone, before complete curing, exists in a soft and deformable state, making it susceptible to shape changes and potential loss of intricate details during the fabrication process. This research explores the potential of additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, to overcome the limitations of conventional methods and create precise silicone bioscaffolds. This study investigates two specific AM techniques tailored for fabricating silicone bioscaffolds: 1) AM-enabled molding for PDMS and 2) direct silicone AM for RTV silicone. The AM molding approach utilized a water-resolvable mold for a damage-free mold removal process. The flowable PDMS was then poured into the mold, where it adopted the defined geometry and cures, resulting in a bioscaffold with precise dimensions and well-defined pores. The direct silicone AM, on the other hand, used a dedicated silicone AM machine specifically designed to handle the unique properties of RTV silicone. The machine allows for the precise deposition of silicone material layer-by-layer, directly building the bioscaffold with the desired architecture. The study investigated the influence of various parameters within each AM technique, such as material line width and number of deposited layers, on the final geometry and pore characteristics of the fabricated bioscaffolds. The successful fabrication of several 2D and 3D silicone bioscaffolds with consistent lattice pore sizes of 0.4 mm using the explored AM techniques has demonstrated the effectiveness of the approaches. Furthermore, the interconnected internal channels within the scaffolds, a crucial feature for nutrient and oxygen transport and waste removal, were successfully established. By utilizing the power of AM, the study has addressed the challenge of maintaining dimensional accuracy during the uncured stage, paving the way for the creation of well-defined and functional silicone scaffolds for diverse organ reconstruction applications. The established design guidelines based on the two investigated AM techniques offer valuable insights for researchers and engineers to further optimize the fabrication process and tailor bioscaffold properties for specific tissue regeneration needs.

Presenting Author: Shu-Yi Chang National Taiwan University

Presenting Author Biography: Shu-Yi is currently a master student at National Taiwan University. Her research areas focus on the applications of soft material additive manufacturing, specifically for the fabrication of bioscaffolds and flexible electrodes.

Authors:

Shu-Yi Chang National Taiwan University
Dian-Ru Li National Taiwan University