• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.686-692
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• 2012

Solid free-form fabrication (SFF) technology was developed to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE) applications. In this study, we developed a polymer deposition system (PDS) and created 3D microstructures using a bioresorbable polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer. Fabrication of 3D scaffolds by PDS requires a combination of several devices, including a heating system, dispenser, and motion controller. The system can process a polymer with extremely high precision by using a 200 ${\mu}m$ nozzle. Based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, both the line width and the piled line height were fine and uniform. Several 3D micro-structures, including the ANU pattern (a pattern named after Andong National University), $45^{\circ}$ pattern square, frame, cylindrical, triangular, cross-shaped, and hexagon, have been fabricated using the polymer deposition system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.1459-1460
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• 2011

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.249-257
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• 2013

Rapid prototyping was used to design and develop a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold for tissue engineering application. In this study, the nozzle guide (TB-CP-HN, MUSASHI ENGINEERING, INC., JAPAN) used with the syringe of the polymer deposition system (PDS) was evaluated by measuring the scaffold line width and height. 3D scaffolds were fabricated using a biodegradable polymer called poly-caprolactone (PCL). The PCL polymer can be deposited from the needle of a syringe using a 200-${\mu}m$ precision nozzle, at a pressure of 600 kPa and temperature of $125^{\circ}C$. The advantages and improvements in this nozzle guide were addressed through washer scaffold fabrication. Overall, this research indicated that the fabrication of a complex-shaped scaffold using an enhanced polymer deposition system may have potential for tissue engineering.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.123-130
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• 2009

This study presents the application of a polymer behavior model that considers fluid mechanics and heat transfer effects in a deposition system. The analysis of the polymer fluid properties is very important in the fabrication of precise microstructures. This fluid behavior model involves the calculation of velocity distribution and mass flow rates that include the effect of heat loss in the needle. The effectiveness of the proposed method was demonstrated by comparing estimated mass fluid rates with experimental values. The mass fluid rates under various process conditions, such as pressure, temperature, and needle size, reflected the actual deposition state relatively well, and the assumption that molten polycaprolactone(PCL) is a non-Newtonian fluid was reasonable. The successful fabrication of three-dimensional microstructures demonstrated that the model is valid for predicting the polymer behavior characteristics in the microstructure fabrication process. The results of this study can be used to investigate the effect of various parameters on fabricated structures before turning to experimental approaches.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.108-115
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• 2018

In bone tissue engineering, polycaprolactone (PCL) is one of the most widely used biomaterials to manufacture scaffolds as a synthetic polymer with biodegradability and biocompatibility. The polymer deposition system (PDS) with four axis heads, which can dispense bio-polymers, has been used in scaffold fabrication for tissue engineering applications. A dual-head deposition technology of PDS is an effective technique to fabricate 3D scaffolds. The electrospinning technology has been widely used to fabricate porous and highly interconnected polymer fibers. Thus, PDS can fabricate nanofiber-combined hybrid scaffolds using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and electrospinning methods. This study aims to fabricate nanofiber-combined scaffolds with uniform nanofibers using PDS. The PCL nanofibers were fabricated and evaluated according to the fabrication process parameters. PCL nanofibers were successfully fabricated when the applied voltage, tip-to-collector distance, flow rate, and solution concentration were 5 kV, 1 cm, 0.1 ml/h, and 8 wt%, respectively. The cell proliferation was evaluated according to the electrospinning time. Scanning electron microscopy was used to acquire images of the cross-sectioned hybrid scaffolds. The cell proliferation test of the PCL and nanofiber-combined hybrid scaffolds was performed using a CCK-8 assay according to the electrospinning time. The result of in-vitro cell proliferation using osteosarcoma MG-63 cells shows that the hybrid scaffold has good potential for bone regeneration.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.791-797
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• 2014

Abstract Scaffold used as a carrier of the cell has been actively conducted using plenty of technology in tissue engineering. ${\beta}$-tricalcium phosphate (${\beta}$-TCP) material has shown good biocompatibility and osteoconductive ability when it was implanted as a bone graft substitute in osseous defect in human and animal studies for bone regeneration. In this study, we fabricated the blended polycaprolactone (PCL) and ${\beta}$-TCP scaffold by the polymer deposition system (PDS). The PCL/${\beta}$-TCP scaffold was fabricated at a temperature of $110^{\circ}C$, pressure of 650 kPa, and scan velocity of 100 mm/sec. The Overall geometry and size of the scaffold were fixed circle type with a diameter of 10 mm and a height of 4 mm. PCL/${\beta}$-TCP scaffold was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Cell attachment and proliferation of the scaffold containing 30 wt% ${\beta}$-TCP was superior to those containing 10 wt% and 20 wt% ${\beta}$-TCP.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.51-53
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• 2008

A new nano-particle deposition system (NPDS) was developed for a ceramic and metal coating process. Nano- and micro-sized powders were sprayed through a supersonic nozzle at room temperature and low vacuum conditions to create ceramic and metal thin films on metal and polymer substrates without thermal damage. Ceramic titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) powder was deposited on polyethylene terephthalate substrates and metal tin (Sn) powder was deposited on SUS substrates. Deposition images were obtained and the resulting chemical composition was measured using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The test results demonstrated that the new NPDS provides a noble coating method for ceramic and metal materials.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.81-83
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• 2008

The Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology has advanced in many application areas. In this research, two different types, cylinder and scaffold, of implantable Drug Delivery System (DDS) were fabricated using Nano Composite Deposition System (NCDS), one of the RP systems. The anti-cancer drug (5-fluorouracil, 5-FU), biodegradable polymer (PLGA(85: 15)), and bio ceramic (Hydroxyapatite, HA) were used to form drug-polymer composite material. Both types of DDS were evaluated in vivo environment for two weeks. For evaluation, the cumulative drug release and shape stability were measured. Test results showed that the scaffold DDS provide higher cumulative drug release and has better stability than cylinder DDS.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2004

Effects of various pretreatments on the adhesion of copper-coated polymer films were investigated. Copper-coated polymer films were prepared by an electron cyclotron resonance-metal organic chemical vapor deposition (ECR-MOCVD) coupled with a DC bias system at room temperature. PET(polyethylene terephthalate) film was employed as a substrate material and it was pretreated by industrially feasible methods such as chromic acid, sand-blasting, oxygen plasma and ion-implantation treatment. Surface characterization of the copper-coated polymer film was carried out by AFM(Atomic Force Microscopy) and FESEM(Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy). Surface energy was calculated by based on the value of the contact angle measured. The adhesion of copper/PET films was determined by a pull-off test according to ASTM D-5179. It was found that suitable pretreatment of the PET substrate was required for obtaining good adhesion property between copper films and the substrate. In this study the highest adhesion was observed in sand-blasting, and then followed by those of acid and oxygen plasma treatment. However, the effect of surface energy was insignificant in our experimental range. This is probably due to compensating the difference in surface energy from various pretreatments by exposing substrate to ECR plasma for 5 min or longer at the early stage of the copper deposition. Therefore, it can be concluded that surface roughness of the polymer substrate plays an important role to determine the adhesion of copper-coated polymer for the deposition of copper by ECR-MOCVD.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.1229-1235
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• 2015

Scaffold fabrication technology using a 3D printer was developed for damaged bone tissue regeneration. A scaffold for bone tissue regeneration application should be biocompatible, biodegradable, and have an adequate mechanical strength. Moreover, the scaffold should have pores of satisfactory quantity and interconnection. In this study, we used the polymer deposition system (PDS) based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) to fabricate a 3D scaffold. The materials used were polycaprolactone (PCL) and alginic acid sodium salt (sodium alginate, SA). The salt-leaching method was used to fabricate dual pores on the 3D scaffold. The 3D scaffold with dual pores was observed using SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy) and evaluated through in-vitro tests using MG63 cells.