Honors College Theses

Publication Date

11-4-2021

Major

Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Faculty Mentor

Mujibur Khan

Abstract

This research’s objective is to create bio-printing technology using a customized Ender 3 Pro printer. The technology will be tested by creating a cell scaffold with gelatin like material. A coaxial spinneret will be used to allow for two different phases to be printed at the same time for in-vitro studies. This objective will be achieved by customizing both the hardware and software of the printer. While experimenting, the most effective solutions between 0.6% agarose and 12.5% gelatin solutions will be determined. The temperature of the printing bed and the solution will also affect the end results, as well as the viscosity of the solution. Experimentally, the best printing surfaces were found to be on ice packs or ice blocks covered by parafilm or metal, as well as a cooled 3D printed structure. These surfaces allowed for the structure to cool and maintain its shape, but not freeze. Gelatin was found to be the best biomaterial, because of its properties and ability to be printed with distinguishable layers. In order to keep the gelatin from solidifying within the capillary system, the syringe pumping speed was optimized with the velocity of the coaxial spinneret. Along with the pumping speed, the capillary diameters were changed to minimize the amount of solidification within the structure. Many combinations of all the variables were experimentally tested to find the procedure that produced the best print.

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