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Artificial vascularized scaffolds for 3D-tissue regeneration — a report of the ArtiVasc 3D Project

order to integrate with the newly developed combined technologies in one process,
AM process, computer programs were devised that • To build a test rig where the combination of the
sliced the CAD model and produced appropriate layer technologies can be examined and developed
data for each aspect of the AM process. This included further.
image data to drive the inkjet printing steps and vector
files to control the stereolithography steps.
For the AM process development, the first task was
to test the new materials for their suitability for inkjet
printing and to define the optimal printing parameters.
Secondly, MPP was adapted with regard to the devel-
oped material and the desired scaffold structures by
developing appropriate beam guidance and optics.
Thirdly, the materials were tested for their suitability
in the electrospinning process and to define the
process parameters. Further work involved the devel-
opment of a process-strategy and concept for combin-
ing inkjet, MPP and electrospinning and then to ex- Figure 2. The user interface for the automated generation of
amine the co-action of all three production technolo- vessel designs.

gies. This required a test rig including all three tech-
nologies to be produced, as well as the development 5.3 Objectives of WP7
and generation of the necessary machine control code The overall goal was to develop the integrated mach-
enabling process-integration and optimization. ine prototype encompassing the developed processes
5.1 Objectives of WP3 through a set of pre- and post-processing steps. Spec-
ific objectives were:
The overall goal was the modelling and design of a • To establish the machine prototype specifica-
vascular system that effectively delivers O 2 and other tions for the machine demonstrator,
nutrients from the circulating blood flow to the sur- • To develop prototype solutions for the produc-
rounding tissue. Specific objectives were: tion module, combining inkjet printing, MPP
• To investigate the nutrient permeation within and electrospinning and modules for necessary
the vascular system to the cells, pre- and post-processing steps,
• To identify the requirements for the blood flow • To manufacture and implement the integrated
through the system and provide an informed machine prototype,
design specification, • To set the prototype into service, commissio-
• To develop design tools for generating 3D CAD ning, parameters tuning and equipment adjust-
models of optimum vascular systems (see Fig- ment.
ure 2) [11,12] , 5.4 Objectives of WP8
• To translate 3D models into an appropriate data
format for the proposed AM process. The overall goal was to demonstrate and test the pro-
totype process and equipment resulting from WP7.
5.2 Objectives of WP4 Specific objectives were:
The overall goal was to develop a combined AM • To demonstrate the fulfilment of requirements
process that integrates inkjet printing, MPP and elec- for the scaffold generation,
trospinning to work as one single process. Specific • To make fully functional scaffolds for analysis,
objectives were: • To produce scaffolds for biological applications.
• To deliver machine specification for building a 5.5 Highlights
working process module in WP7,
• To iteratively adapt and optimize the process The three AM processes have been installed and ex-
for each process technology in cooperation with tensively characterized. By using UV-curing it could be
material development, demonstrated that vessels with different geometries and
• To develop a strategy for combining these three sizes could be generated either by MPP with dimen-

96 International Journal of Bioprinting (2016)–Volume 2, Issue 1