scholarly journals A Versatile Open-Source Printhead for Low-Cost 3D Microextrusion-Based Bioprinting

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2346
Author(s):  
Andres Sanz-Garcia ◽  
Enrique Sodupe-Ortega ◽  
Alpha Pernía-Espinoza ◽  
Tatsuya Shimizu ◽  
Carmen Escobedo-Lucea
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Calibration Models ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
3D Printers ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Multiple Units

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting promises to be essential in tissue engineering for solving the rising demand for organs and tissues. Some bioprinters are commercially available, but their impact on the field of Tissue engineering (TE) is still limited due to their cost or difficulty to tune. Herein, we present a low-cost easy-to-build printhead for microextrusion-based bioprinting (MEBB) that can be installed in many desktop 3D printers to transform them into 3D bioprinters. We can extrude bioinks with precise control of print temperature between 2–60 °C. We validated the versatility of the printhead, by assembling it in three low-cost open-source desktop 3D printers. Multiple units of the printhead can also be easily put together in a single printer carriage for building a multi-material 3D bioprinter. Print resolution was evaluated by creating representative calibration models at different temperatures using natural hydrogels such as gelatin and alginate, and synthetic ones like poloxamer. Using one of the three modified low-cost 3D printers, we successfully printed cell-laden lattice constructs with cell viabilities higher than 90% after 24-h post printing. Controlling temperature and pressure according to the rheological properties of the bioinks was essential in achieving optimal printability and great cell viability. The cost per unit of our device, which can be used with syringes of different volume, is less expensive than any other commercially available product. These data demonstrate an affordable open-source printhead with the potential to become a reliable alternative to commercial bioprinters for any laboratory.

scholarly journals A Versatile Open-source Printhead for Low-cost 3D Microextrusion-based Bioprinting

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Sanz-Garcia ◽  
Enrique Sodupe-Ortega ◽  
ALPHA V. PERNIA-ESPINOZA ◽  
Tatsuya Shimizu ◽  
Carmen Escobedo-Lucea
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Calibration Models ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
3D Printers ◽  
Temperature And Pressure ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Multiple Units

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting promises to be essential in tissue engineering for solving the rising demand for organs and tissues. Some bioprinters are commercially available, but their impact on the field of TE is still limited due to their cost or difficulty to tune. Herein, we present a low-cost easy-to-build printhead for microextrusion-based bioprinting (MEBB) that can be installed in many desktop 3D printers to transform them into 3D bioprinters. We can extrude bioinks with precise control of print temperature between 2 - 60 ºC. We validated the versatility of the printhead, by assembling it in three low-cost open-source desktop 3D printers. Multiple units of the printhead can also be easily put together in a single printer carriage for building a multi-material 3D bioprinter. Print resolution was evaluated by creating representative calibration models at different temperatures using natural hydrogels such as gelatin and alginate, and synthetic ones like poloxamer. Using one of the three modified low-cost 3D printers, we successfully printed cell-laden lattice constructs with cell viabilities higher than 90% after 24h post printing. Controlling temperature and pressure according to the rheological properties of the bioinks was essential in achieving optimal printability and great cell viability. The cost per unit of our device, which can be used with syringes of different volume, is less expensive than any other commercially available product. These data demonstrate an affordable open-source printhead with the potential to become a reliable alternative to commercial bioprinters for any laboratory.

scholarly journals 3-D Printable Polymer Pelletizer Chopper for Fused Granular Fabrication-Based Additive Manufacturing

Inventions ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aubrey Woern ◽  
Joshua Pearce
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Tolerance ◽  
Entire Process ◽  
Composite Fabrication ◽  
The Us ◽  
Color Mixing ◽  
Returns On Investment

Although distributed additive manufacturing can provide high returns on investment, the current markup on commercial filament over base polymers limits deployment. These cost barriers can be surmounted by eliminating the entire process of fusing filament by three-dimensional (3-D) printing products directly from polymer granules. Fused granular fabrication (FGF) (or fused particle fabrication (FPF)) is being held back in part by the accessibility of low-cost pelletizers and choppers. An open-source 3-D printable invention disclosed here allows for precisely controlled pelletizing of both single thermopolymers as well as composites for 3-D printing. The system is designed, built, and tested for its ability to provide high-tolerance thermopolymer pellets with a number of sizes capable of being used in an FGF printer. In addition, the chopping pelletizer is tested for its ability to chop multi-materials simultaneously for color mixing and composite fabrication as well as precise fractional measuring back to filament. The US$185 open-source 3-D printable pelletizer chopper system was successfully fabricated and has a 0.5 kg/h throughput with one motor, and 1.0 kg/h throughput with two motors using only 0.24 kWh/kg during the chopping process. Pellets were successfully printed directly via FGF as well as indirectly after being converted into high-tolerance filament in a recyclebot.

scholarly journals Open Source Digitally Replicable Lab-Grade Scales

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin R. Hubbard ◽  
Joshua M. Pearce
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Load Cell ◽  
Significant Cost ◽  
Load Cells ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cell Data ◽  
Precision Balance ◽  
Multiple Load

This study provides designs for a low-cost, easily replicable open source lab-grade digital scale that can be used as a precision balance. The design is such that it can be manufactured for use in most labs throughout the world with open source RepRap-class material extrusion-based 3-D printers for the mechanical components and readily available open source electronics including the Arduino Nano. Several versions of the design were fabricated and tested for precision and accuracy for a range of load cells. The results showed the open source scale was found to be repeatable within 0.1g with multiple load cells, with even better precision (0.01g) depending on load cell range and style. The scale tracks linearly with proprietary lab-grade scales, meeting the performance specified in the load cell data sheets, indicating that it is accurate across the range of the load cell installed. The smallest loadcell tested(100g) offers precision on the order of a commercial digital mass balance. The scale can be produced at significant cost savings compared to scales of comparable range and precision when serial capability is present. The cost savings increase significantly as the range of the scale increases and are particularly well-suited for resource-constrained medical and scientific facilities.

scholarly journals Software-Based Three-Dimensional Deconvolution Microscopy of Cytoskeletal Proteins in Cultured Fibroblast Using Open-Source Software and Open Hardware

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Kazuo Katoh
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Open Source Software ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cytoskeletal Proteins ◽  
Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
Actual Measurement ◽  
Open Hardware

As conventional fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy generally produce images with blurring at the upper and lower planes along the z-axis due to non-focal plane image information, the observation of biological images requires “deconvolution.” Therefore, a microscope system’s individual blur function (point spread function) is determined theoretically or by actual measurement of microbeads and processed mathematically to reduce noise and eliminate blurring as much as possible. Here the author describes the use of open-source software and open hardware design to build a deconvolution microscope at low cost, using readily available software and hardware. The advantage of this method is its cost-effectiveness and ability to construct a microscope system using commercially available optical components and open-source software. Although this system does not utilize expensive equipment, such as confocal and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopes, decent images can be obtained even without previous experience in electronics and optics.

scholarly journals A Customizable, Low-Cost Perfusion System for Sustaining Tissue Constructs

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 592-598
Author(s):  
Brian J. O’Grady ◽  
Jason X. Wang ◽  
Shannon L. Faley ◽  
Daniel A. Balikov ◽  
Ethan S. Lippmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Cell Viability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tissue Scaffolds ◽  
Perfusion System ◽  
Pump System ◽  
Tissue Constructs ◽  
Engineered Tissue

The fabrication of engineered vascularized tissues and organs requiring sustained, controlled perfusion has been facilitated by the development of several pump systems. Currently, researchers in the field of tissue engineering require the use of pump systems that are in general large, expensive, and generically designed. Overall, these pumps often fail to meet the unique demands of perfusing clinically useful tissue constructs. Here, we describe a pumping platform that overcomes these limitations and enables scalable perfusion of large, three-dimensional hydrogels. We demonstrate the ability to perfuse multiple separate channels inside hydrogel slabs using a preprogrammed schedule that dictates pumping speed and time. The use of this pump system to perfuse channels in large-scale engineered tissue scaffolds sustained cell viability over several weeks.

Development of a Low Cost Device for Measuring Solar Irradiance

2012 ◽  
Vol 457-458 ◽  
pp. 1377-1382
Author(s):  
Yu Jie Chen ◽  
Cong Hu ◽  
Yi Ze Sun ◽  
Zhuo Meng
Keyword(s):  
Solar Irradiance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Photoelectric Cell ◽  
Cost System ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
The Cost

For a determination of the system’s efficiency and decrease the cost, a low cost system for measuring solar irradiance is designed. By analyzing the influence of solar irradiance and temperature to solar cell, we have found that in case of different temperatures the variation of short-circuit current (Isc) in function of solar irradiation incident (E) is always linear. Then the read-out circuitry is designed to measure and convert the signal which is detected by the photoelectric cell and thermocouples. At last, the software is developed to compensate the temperature and make sure the device work normally. The results of detecting the system show that it’s effective and reliable.

scholarly journals ASSESSING THE ACCURACY AND PRECISION OF IMPERFECT POINT CLOUDS FOR 3D INDOOR MAPPING AND MODELING

2018 ◽  
Vol IV-4/W6 ◽  
pp. 3-10
Author(s):  
J. Chen ◽  
O. E. Mora ◽  
K. C. Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Random Noise ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Laser Scanner ◽  
Point Clouds ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sharp Edges ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Indoor Spaces

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> In recent years, growing public interest in three-dimensional technology has led to the emergence of affordable platforms that can capture 3D scenes for use in a wide range of consumer applications. These platforms are often widely available, inexpensive, and can potentially find dual use in taking measurements of indoor spaces for creating indoor maps. Their affordability, however, usually comes at the cost of reduced accuracy and precision, which becomes more apparent when these instruments are pushed to their limits to scan an entire room. The point cloud measurements they produce often exhibit systematic drift and random noise that can make performing comparisons with accurate data difficult, akin to trying to compare a fuzzy trapezoid to a perfect square with sharp edges. This paper outlines a process for assessing the accuracy and precision of these imperfect point clouds in the context of indoor mapping by integrating techniques such as the extended Gaussian image, iterative closest point registration, and histogram thresholding. A case study is provided at the end to demonstrate use of this process for evaluating the performance of the Scanse Sweep 3D, an ultra-low cost panoramic laser scanner.</p>

scholarly journals Co-Zn-MOFs Derived N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes with Crystalline Co Nanoparticles Embedded as Effective Oxygen Electrocatalysts

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 261
Author(s):  
Wendi Zhang ◽  
Xiaoming Liu ◽  
Man Gao ◽  
Hong Shang ◽  
Xuanhe Liu
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Hydrogen Electrode ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Alkaline Electrolytes ◽  
Electron Migration ◽  
Co Nanoparticles

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a crucial step in fuel cells and metal-air batteries. It is necessary to expand the range of efficient non-precious ORR electrocatalysts on account of the low abundance and high cost of Pt/C catalysts. Herein, we synthesized crystalline cobalt-embedded N-doped carbon nanotubes (Co@CNTs-T) via facile carbonization of Co/Zn metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with dicyandiamide at different temperatures (t = 600, 700, 800, 900 °C). Co@CNTs- 800 possessed excellent ORR activities in alkaline electrolytes with a half wave potential of 0.846 V vs. RHE (Reversible Hydrogen Electrode), which was comparable to Pt/C. This three-dimensional network, formed by Co@CNTs-T, facilitated electron migration and ion diffusion during the ORR process. The carbon shell surrounding the Co nanoparticles resulted in Co@CNTs-800 being stable as an electrocatalyst. This work provides a new strategy to design efficient and low-cost oxygen catalysts.

scholarly journals OptiJ: Open-source optical projection tomography of large organ samples

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro P. Vallejo Ramirez ◽  
Joseph Zammit ◽  
Oliver Vanderpoorten ◽  
Fergus Riche ◽  
Francois-Xavier Blé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Optical Projection Tomography ◽  
Optical Components ◽  
Adult Mice ◽  
Optical Projection ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Imagej Plugin ◽  
Lung Lobes

Abstract The three-dimensional imaging of mesoscopic samples with Optical Projection Tomography (OPT) has become a powerful tool for biomedical phenotyping studies. OPT uses visible light to visualize the 3D morphology of large transparent samples. To enable a wider application of OPT, we present OptiJ, a low-cost, fully open-source OPT system capable of imaging large transparent specimens up to 13 mm tall and 8 mm deep with 50 µm resolution. OptiJ is based on off-the-shelf, easy-to-assemble optical components and an ImageJ plugin library for OPT data reconstruction. The software includes novel correction routines for uneven illumination and sample jitter in addition to CPU/GPU accelerated reconstruction for large datasets. We demonstrate the use of OptiJ to image and reconstruct cleared lung lobes from adult mice. We provide a detailed set of instructions to set up and use the OptiJ framework. Our hardware and software design are modular and easy to implement, allowing for further open microscopy developments for imaging large organ samples.

scholarly journals The influence of supercritical foaming conditions on properties of polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Kosowska ◽  
Marek Henczka
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Process Parameters ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Porous Structures ◽  
Static Compression ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Foaming Process ◽  
Supercritical Foaming

Abstract The results of experimental investigations into foaming process of poly(ε-caprolactone) using supercritical CO2 are presented. The objective of the study was to explore the aspects of fabrication of biodegradable and biocompatible scaffolds that can be applied as a temporary three-dimensional extracellular matrix analog for cells to grow into a new tissue. The influence of foaming process parameters, which have been proven previously to affect significantly scaffold bioactivity, such as pressure (8-18 MPa), temperature (323-373 K) and time of saturation (1-6 h) on microstructure and mechanical properties of produced polymer porous structures is presented. The morphology and mechanical properties of considered materials were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), x-ray microtomography (μ-CT) and a static compression test. A precise control over porosity and morphology of obtained polymer porous structures by adjusting the foaming process parameters has been proved. The obtained poly(ε-caprolactone) solid foams prepared using scCO2 have demonstrated sufficient mechanical strength to be applied as scaffolds in tissue engineering.

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