3D Printing Research

Researchers at Swansea University have developed a novel approach to testing biomaterials for bone regeneration, offering both speed and ethical refinement.  Published in Bioactive Materials journal, and led by Dr. Zhidao Xia, a team from Swansea’s Medical School and Faculty of Science and Engineering has introduced a murine tibial periosteal ossification model that eliminates the need for traditional methods involving fractures or critical sized defects.  In doing so, they significantly reduce animal suffering while enabling biomaterial evaluation in as little as 14 days, with cortical bone remodeling completed by 28 days. Dr. Xia explained, “Our invention bridges the gap between synthetic substitutes and donor bone. We’ve shown that it’s possible to create a material that is safe, effective, and scalable to meet global demand. This could end the reliance on donor bone and tackle the ethical and supply issues in bone grafting.” Alongside Swansea, several institutions worldwide contributed to this…    read more 

Researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow have created a fully 3D printed and low cost microscope for histological imaging.  Based on OpenFlexure‘s open-source design, the device incorporates 3D printed mechanical and optical components alongside a Raspberry Pi for control, an LED light source for illumination, and an affordable off-the-shelf camera. Weighing just 3 kg, the microscope can be assembled in three hours at an estimated cost of £50 ($60). This study is published in the bioRvix journal. As reported by New Scientist, Gail McConnell Professor of Biophotonics at the University, highlighted the impact of their work. She stated that her team had earlier devised a technique for 3D printing lenses commonly used in microscopes, a development that played a crucial role in achieving this milestone. Measuring the resolution of a fully 3D printed microscope post-acquisition chromatic correction. Image via University of Strathclyde. Affordability with 3D printed optics Key…    read more 

Researchers at the Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine have unveiled a novel cannabidiol (CBD) hollow suppository (CHS) produced via 3D printing. This innovative device aims to address the limitations of oral CBD formulations, which suffer from a high first-pass metabolism and low bioavailability. The CHS features an outer curved hollow shell packed with CBD and an inner spring, engineered to enable effective rectal administration without impeding normal bowel movements. Early preclinical tests suggest this approach may offer improved systemic delivery of CBD, potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes for epilepsy. The innovative suppository combines advanced materials and precise 3D printing techniques. A thermoplastic urethane spring, manufactured using fused deposition modeling, serves as the internal support. This spring is then enclosed within a CBD-loaded outer shell, which is molded using a 3D printed metal form filled with a blend of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, and CBD. The hollow architecture of the CHS minimizes…    read more 

A recent study from Queen’s University Belfast has employed 3D printing to create cacao-based formulations infused with raw Greek honey and vitamin D3 (VitD3). The researchers aimed to improve supplement delivery by addressing taste and bioavailability issues. Their approach involved blending organic cacao with varying concentrations of honey and introducing VitD3, using specialized 3D printing technology to form precise, stable “printlets.” Three honey types—Vitex Honey, Lavender Honey, and Jerusalem Sage Honey—were each melted at 37 °C and incorporated into 100% organic cacao liquor. The team prepared two concentrations, 5% and 10% (w/w), to identify how varying honey ratios affected the resulting mixtures. Physicochemical tests indicated that the chocolate-honey formulations stayed liquid-like under ambient conditions and remained stable up to around 38 °C. Rheological analyses revealed that adding honey increased viscosity, enhancing the structural stability of the 3D printed shapes. Graphical abstract. Image via Science Direct. Lavender Honey at 10% concentration emerged as…    read more 

A recent study conducted by Henkel’s Loctite 3D Printing team has revealed that UV curing resins can compete with established engineering thermoplastics in many durability conditions relevant for industrial applications.  According to Henkel, additive manufacturing has transformed how functional plastic parts can be produced, providing superior design flexibility, complexity, and speed in production. As the range of materials expands, particularly UV curing resins, a growing need exists to evaluate their performance compared to traditional thermoplastics.  Based on frequent customer requests, Loctite 3D Printing conducted a study that compared their UV curing resins Loctite® 3D 3843 BK and Loctite® 3D IND403 BK with two traditional thermoplastics used for injection molding, namely PA6 and POM.  In this study the mechanical properties of the 3D printed samples were compared with the Injection molded samples. The individual performances were assessed after following an extensive series of durability tests, like accelerated weathering, accelerated heat ageing,…    read more