title: A building-block approach to 3D printing a multichannel, organ-regenerative scaffold.
abstract: Multichannel scaffolds, formed by rapid prototyping technologies, retain a high potential for regenerative medicine and the manufacture of complex organs. This study aims to optimize several parameters for producing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds by a low-temperature, deposition manufacturing, three-dimensional printing (3DP, or rapid prototyping) system. Concentration of the synthetic polymer solution, nozzle speed and extrusion rate were analysed and discussed. Polymer solution with a concentration of 12% w/v was determined as optimal for formation; large deviation of this figure failed to maintain the desired structure. The extrusion rate was also modified for better construct quality. Finally, several solid organ scaffolds, such as the liver, with proper wall thickness and intact contour were printed. This study gives basic instruction to design and fabricate scaffolds with de novo material systems, particularly by showing the approximation of variables for manufacturing multichannel PLGA scaffolds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.|State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die and Mould Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Centre of Organ Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Boaz Lloyd
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Rijff
authors.affiliation: Department of BIN Fusion Technology and Department of Polymer Nanoscience Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gilson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khang
mesh_terms: D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D012038:Regeneration; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: low-temperature deposition manufacturing; multichannel scaffold; organ manufacture; poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid); rapid prototyping; three-dimensional printing (3DP)