Description
MELT electrowriting printing technology is a cutting-edge method that enables the precise fabrication of intricate structures at the micro- and nanoscale levels. This technology involves the controlled deposition of molten polymer fibers using electric fields, allowing for the creation of customized structures with high resolution and accuracy. In healthcare, MELT electrowriting has significant potential for various applications. For instance, it can be used to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering, where the precise arrangement of fibers can mimic the native tissue architecture and support cell growth and differentiation. Additionally, this technology can aid in developing drug delivery systems by creating microscale capsules or fibers capable of controlled release of therapeutic agents. Furthermore, MELT electrowriting has been explored to fabricate biosensors and diagnostic devices, offering a versatile and adaptable platform for advancing healthcare technologies.
Speakers:
Naomi Paxton
Dr. Naomi Paxton is a Senior Research Fellow in the field of biofabrication & 3D printing, and leader of the Bioinspired Additive Manufacturing (BioAM) group. With a background in physics, Naomi was part of the inaugural cohort for the dual international Biofabrication Masters degree and has completed her research training in world-leading international labs in Australia, Germany, the UK and USA. In 2020, Naomi completed her PhD in partnership with Melbourne-based medical device company, Anatomics, through the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing. Dr. Paxton’s research involves combining advanced biomaterials to 3D print scaffolds that replicate natural biological systems and promote regeneration. For example, Naomi’s research uses a range of biomaterials and composites to fabricate patient-specific surgical implants and focuses on the use of melt electrowriting (MEW), an advanced additive manufacturing technique which allows the deposition of micron-scale fibres in ordered 3D constructs.
Paul Dalton
Paul Dalton is an Associate Professor at the University of Oregon who specializes in manufacturing technologies for biofabrication. He is credited with inventing and developing melt electrowriting, a distinct class within 3D printing. His research on medical implants involves the use of high-resolution 3D printing and simultaneously promotes grassroots open-source hardware development and low-cost approaches in biomedical engineering. With over 25 years of hands-on experience, his expertise spans various fields, including biomaterials, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, neuroimmunology, experimental surgery, biofabrication, and 3D printing. His interdisciplinary and international perspective is reflected in his previous research and residences in Australia, Canada, China, the UK, and Germany before relocating to the US.
Bahram Mirani
Bahram Mirani is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto, working on tissue engineering of heart valves. Combining melt electrowriting with computational modelling and design of experiments, he has developed a method to recapitulate the complex nonlinear, anisotropic mechanical behaviour of native soft connective tissues such as valve tissue – essential for their function, regulation, and homeostasis – in tissue-engineered constructs. Before his Ph.D., Bahram obtained his Master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Victoria, Canada, where he focused on tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery.
Filippos Tourlomousis
Filippos is the founder & CEO of Biological Lattice Industries Corp., a VC-backed startup that is developing an AI-driven robotic biofabrication platform for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. In addition to that, Filippos is the Chief Scientist of “Superlabs, The Laboratory for Autonomous Science” at NCSR Demokritos funded by the EU Resilience and Recovery Fund (Greece 2.0). His main research interests lie in the field of intelligence for the automation of science and robotics infrastructure for self-driving materials engineering labs of the future (a.k.a. “robot scientists”).
Moderator:
Dr. Jenny Chen
Dr. Jenny Chen is trained as a neuroradiologist, and founder/CEO of 3DHEALS. Her main interests include next-generation education, 3D printing in the healthcare sector, automated biology, and artificial intelligence. She is an angel investor who invests in Pitch3D companies.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.