title: Three-dimensional printing fiber reinforced hydrogel composites.
abstract: 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.affiliation: Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, University of Wollongong , North Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Shannon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Bakarich
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gorkin
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: in het Panhuis
authors.forename: Geoffrey M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Spinks
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D062028:Bioprinting / Q000379:methods*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000464:Alginates; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
keywords: 3D printing; alginate/polyacrylamide hydrogel; artificial meniscus; composite hydrogel; rule of mixtures