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International Journal of Bioprinting Innovative manufacturing of ω-3-enriched chocolate

Izgordu et al. The rheometer contained an MK- the chocolate/ω-3 mixture was loaded into an empty
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PP25 measuring system and a laboratory thermostat. syringe that was specifically arranged for the AXO-A3
Measurements were performed at two specific temperatures: system, and the syringe was connected to the pressure
25°C, which represents ambient temperature, and 37°C, tubes through a nozzle in order to obtain the necessary
which corresponds to the temperature of normal human extrusion force.
skin. The flow and viscosity curves were generated under
controlled shear conditions, over the range of 1–1000 2.4. Fabrication of ω-3 microparticles
s and over a time period of 150 s. Subsequently, both using electrospraying
−1
graphical and mathematical analyses were performed on Microparticles were fabricated using the method described
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the collected data using Rheotex software. by Ulag et al. Briefly, 0.1 g of SA was dissolved in distilled
water with a magnetic stirrer. After dissolving, 0.3 g of
2.3. 3D printing of chocolate Tween 80 was added to the solution, serving as a surfactant;
Couverture dark chocolate was melted in water vapor, 0.3 g of ω-3 was added. Electrospraying parameters were
and 0.3 g of ω-3 was added to 10 mL of chocolate. Using a optimized at 0.18 mL/h flow rate, 12 cm distance between
metal spatula, the chocolate/ω-3 blend was mixed gently the needle tip and the 3D printed chocolates, and 25.5 kV
to obtain a homogenous mixture without aggregation. applied voltage. All chocolate scaffolds were coated for 1
The chocolate scaffolds were designed using SolidWorks h with ω-3-loaded particles. After the coating process, the
software. The scaffold exhibited a square shape with samples were stored at −18°C. A schematic representation
dimensions of 3 × 3 cm. The designed shape was saved in of the production process is displayed in Figure 2. Pure
.stl format and then transferred to RepetierHost software, chocolate, ω-3-mixed chocolate, and ω-3-SA MP-coated
which is compatible with the 3D printer (AXO-A3; chocolate sample images, obtained using a light microscope
Axolotl Biosystems, Turkey). After preparing the design, (Zeiss, Germany), are presented in Figure 3. The

Figure 2. Schematic illustration of (A) the 3D printing process of ω-3-loaded dark chocolate and (B) the coating process of pure 3D-printed dark chocolate
with ω-3 by electrospraying.

Volume 10 Issue 6 (2024) 376 doi: 10.36922/ijb.3969