Long before he became the inventor of Melt Electrowriting (MEW), Professor. Paul Dalton had a boredom-filled childhood on a rural farm outside Perth, Australia. In this episode, we had the opportunity to sit down with Professor Dalton to learn about his academic journey, most importantly, the moments that led to the invention of MEW, and the start of a new biofabrication movement. However, the conversation did not linger in the past, as a futurist and educator, Prof. Dalton also shared with us his ongoing priorities and future outlook on the clinical impact of biofabrication.

⚠️ Disclaimer:
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed do not constitute engineering, medical, or financial advice. The technologies and procedures discussed may not be commercially available or suitable for every case. Always consult with a qualified professional

About Our Guest:

Paul Dalton is a futurist, inventor, and educator specializing in 3D printing, tissue engineering, and biofabrication. He pioneered and developed melt electrowriting, establishing it as a distinct manufacturing class within 3D printing. Today, this groundbreaking technology is utilized by over 60
laboratories worldwide. Dr. Dalton has an interdisciplinary and global perspective to the biomaterials community, having lived and conducted research in Australia, Canada, China, the UK, and Germany before joining the University of Oregon. His work focuses on reimagining the future of advanced manufacturing and its translation into biomedical applications.

Key Takeaways

• What electrospinning and melt electrowriting actually are, explained in plain language
• Why MEW pulls fibers instead of pushing them, and how it prints at one-tenth of a teardrop per hour
• The decades-long pursuit of clinical applications
• The open-source “MEWron” printer is bringing MEW to labs for a fraction of the cost of commercial machines
• The two kinds of makers (builders vs. users) and where the community is heading
• Paul’s advice for clinicians and newcomers entering biofabrication
• A remarkable offer for listeners at the end of this episode. 

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro — Paul Dalton, the “triple threat” inventor
01:59 Growing up & the artificial cornea
07:13 Boredom as the furnace of creativity
13:14 Electrospinning explained — and the pivot to MEW
17:54 The breathless Eureka moment under the microscope
20:41 What MEW can do that ordinary 3D printing can’t
29:54 The open-source “MEWron” printer & disrupting the field
41:27 Bioprinting vs. biofabrication
47:39 The future: MEW implants by 2030
57:24 Final offer

Resources

🔗 Contact Dr. Paul Dalton 

• Paul Dalton on LinkedIn 
• Dalton Lab, University of Oregon
• Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact

🔗 MEWron Movement

• MEWron: An open-source melt electrowriting platform
• MEWron workshop info (2027) will take place at the University of Oregon in Summer 2027

🔗 VivoTex

• VivoTex Official Website

🔗 Exploring the Future of Biofabrication

• Lions Eye Institute (Australia)
• TERMIS (Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society)

🔗 Selected Publications by Dr. Paul Dalton

• Complete Publication List on PubMed
• MEWron: An open-source melt electrowriting platform
• Direct writing by way of melt electrospinning
• Guidance of glial cell migration and axonal growth on electrospun nanofibers of poly(ε-caprolactone) and a collagen/poly-ε-caprolactone blend
• Biofabrication: reappraising the definition of an evolving field
• Engineering Highly Aligned and Densely Populated Cardiac Muscle Bundles via Fibrin Remodeling in 3D-Printed Anisotropic Microfibrous Lattices (Chinese publication mentioned)
• Three-part publication mentioned in the podcast:
  • Melt electrospinning today: An opportune time for an emerging polymer process
  • The Next Frontier in Melt Electrospinning: Taming the Jet
  • To be published soon.

🔗Other Relevant Links

• 3DHEALS Interview with Prof. Paul Dalton: Melt Electrowriting and Biofabrication
• Google Scholar (Full Publication List): scholar.google.com – Paul Dalton
• Conference Talk (CBT 2023 – YouTube): A/Prof Paul Dalton CBTConf2023
• 3DHEALS Course: Melt-Electrowriting And/Or 3D Printing
  
  

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The post Podcast: Paul Dalton, Inventor of Melt Electrowriting (MEW): From Artificial Corneas to Global Biofabrication Movement appeared first on 3DHeals.

In this live Youtube interview, I had the pleasure of getting to the co-founders (also husband and wife) for 3D Biotechnology Solutions, Ana Millás and Pedro Massaguer. 3DBS is the first Brazilian startup that brought bioprinters to its local research institutions and market, and now it is gearing up to expand its global market including that of the United States. Some of the major talking points of this episode include Ana and Pedro’s early journey as biotech cofounders in Brazil, their funding strategies, market product fit, and their strategies in dealing with the local innovation ecosystem and regulatory agencies. We also dig a little deeper on their new hybrid biofabrication bioprinter that combines electrospinning and extrusion-based bioprinting to generate unique tissue engineering capability for its customers.

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A post shared by 3DBS 🔬💉🇧🇷 (@3dbiotechnologysolutions)

Key Talking Points:

00:03:17 Early Journey to 3D Bioprinting and Tissue Engineering

00:05:04 How Ana and Pedro met and formed 3D Biotechnology Solutions 

00:07:33 Why is it important to have made-in-Brazil bioprinter?

00:09:40 Talent acquisition strategy

00:11:46 How to get funded

00:13:16 Relationship with private investors and venture capital firms

00:14:33 Unique challenges to Brazillian biotechnology entrepreneurs

00:18:28 Show and tell of 3BS hybrid electrospinning and extrusion based bioprinter

00:21:25 What is Electrospinning?

00:26:12 The Pandemic

About our Guests:

Ana Millás

As a biologist, Millás holds her PhD and Master’s degree from the Department of Materials Engineering and Bioprocesses at the School of Chemical Engineering of State University of Campinas/UNICAMP. Post-doctoral degree at School of Pharmaceutical Sciences – University of São Paulo. Ana has made part of her research in internationally renowned research centers and institutions, among them, at Cornell University in the United States and Nottingham Trent University and The Electrospinning Company in UK. She has an amazing experience in the amazon forest, also experience in the textile industry. As the R&I Director at 3D Biotechnology Solutions startup, she focused her research on the development of 3D skin in vitro models, vascularized tissues and cartilage reconstruction using the technologies of electrospinning and 3D bioprinting.

Pedro Massaguer

Business Developement, is a specialist in Strategic Business Management. He completed a Master’s and Doctorate in the Science and Technology Policy program at the state University of Campinas (UNICAMP). He has experience in innovative technology-based projects, business development, and strategic planning in the area of Biotechnology. He is the CEO of 3D Biotechnology solutions and also partner of In Situ Cell Therapy and Labtermo Microbiology Consultancy.

Related Links:

Alternative Biofabrication Methods: Sonolithography, Single Cell Bioprinting, Melt Electrowriting

3D Bioprinting Skin Applications, Wound Healing

Interview with Ming Jie Tan, CSO, DeNova Sciences, Artificial (Asian) Skin

3D Bioprinting: The Yellow Brick Road (Part 3)

Bio Fabrication Techniques for Bone and Cartilage Tissue Regeneration

Interview: Dr. Pedro Martinez Seijas, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Donostia University Hospital

The post Made in Brazil: Interview with the co-founders of Bioprinting Startup 3D Biotechnology Solutions appeared first on 3DHeals.

In 2018, I was inspired to create a dedicated 3DHEALS podcast after meeting a young lady Penelope during the 3DHEALS2018 conference. Penelope was the first American patient who received a 3D printed thoracic cage implant created by Australian company AnatomicsRx.

Penelope is a very well articulated and knowledgeable young patient. Part of her treatment success with AnatomicsRx came from herself. She is a true advocate for her own healthcare. She did her own research, reached out to various companies and providers for better solutions than the options she was initially presented with. It was a great story to share with the 3DHEALS community not just about that the technology worked, but that patients can be our powerful allies on this journey of re-inventing healthcare. It is also an inspiring story for many other patients who can learn to take more control over their fate. Unfortunately, that was put off, and I wish I did not.

However, amid this COVID-19 crisis and the fact we are full speed towards possibly the largest virtual conference this June, 3DHEALS2020, some alone time during quarantine gave me an opportunity to reflect on the purpose of 3DHEALS and its future.

One of the most important roles of 3DHEALS is to provide a stage for individuals who are passionate about reinventing healthcare using 3D printing and bioprinting, so that they can tell their stories to the right audience who share their passion first, and eventually the entire world. We think it is important for smart people who have little marketing budget to be heard and seen.

The podcast will invite technological game-changers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, world-class clinicians, scientists, and other expert stakeholders to deep dive on topics that are interesting to 3DHEALS audience, but it will also include interviews with our live event speakers, AMA (Ask Me Anything) episodes, where the 3DHEALS community managers will answer various questions from the community, and recordings from 3DHEALS webinars.

Please email us topics that you want to hear more on: info@3dheals.com

Support our podcast with a donation:

The post Not Another Podcast: The Lattice appeared first on 3DHeals.

Jon A. Rowley, Ph.D., is the Founder & Chief Product Officer of RoosterBio Inc.  Jon started RoosterBio in 2013 as part of his personal quest of having the biggest impact possible on the commercial translation of technologies that incorporate living cells, including cellular therapies, engineered tissues, and tomorrow’s medical devices.  Jon holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Biomedical Engineering and has authored over 35 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 20 issued or pending patents related to biomaterials development, tissue engineering, and cellular therapy.  Jon started his industry career at BD as a scientist and R&D manager in a Cell & Tissue Technologies group focused on applying high throughput screening technologies to cell therapy media development and tissue engineering.  Jon then contributed to the clinical development of Aastrom Biosciences’ Tissue Repair Cell product, where he was Sr Manager of Process Development responsible for manufacturing process improvements and cell delivery to the patient.  Jon most recently spent 5 years as Director of Innovation and Process Development in Lonza’s Cell Therapy CMO business, and currently resides in Walkersville, MD with his wonderful wife and their three children. Jon will be a speaker at our upcoming 3DHEALS2020.

Jenny: When was the first encounter you had with 3D printing? What was that experience like? What were you thinking at that moment?

Rowley: My first encounter was during college at the University of Michigan where my undergraduate degree was in Materials Engineering in the early 1990s.  I was getting exposed to all sorts of material processing technologies from metal forging to ceramic casting to fiber spinning and polymer injection molding. We even had access to an early SLA machine for rapid prototyping of computer-generated designs. During my undergraduate research work where I was developing applications for engineered protein polymers, the 3D fabrication technology that I utilized mostly was our departmental Scientific Glassblower, Harold.  I would pop up to his workshop with custom cell culture tool concepts that I needed to be created, but I had the added complexity of needing the ability to steam sterilize the pieces (a process that melts most plastics). I was utilizing many types of materials processing in my work, and quickly realized the practical applications in the engineering world.

Jenny: What inspired you to start your journey in 3D bio-fabrication?

Rowley: I started my journey in the 3D bio-fabrication of living tissues during my University days.  I was getting my BS in Materials Science & Engineering at Michigan when I fell in love with cell biology.  I ended up taking most of the classes within the Biology department even though it didn’t contribute to my degree – I just thought biology was an amazing field that I discovered a little too late to switch majors out of the Engineering school.  When I finally got to taking higher level Developmental Biology and Genetics classes, after taking all of these material processing classes in my engineering major, I started to look at living organisms simply as big material factories – making growth factors, cytokines, extracellular matrix or new cells when needed, on demand.  It was truly fascinating. This was around 1993-1994. As I was looking for what to study in Graduate School, this new field of Tissue Engineering was just starting to materialize, and Michigan hired its first faculty focused on this field named David Mooney out of MIT & Harvard. I really hit it off with Dave and ended up staying at Michigan and doing my PhD in his lab where we focused on how material properties can be engineered for tissue engineering applications.  We collaborated a ton during those initial years on projects associated with designing biomaterials to guide cell function and tissue structure. I got to bring much of my materials processing background to the table and many of our inventions were immediately made into formats that could be tested in practical applications. We filed several patents during that time – one (in collaboration with Larry Bonassar – now at Cornell) titled Injection Molding of Living Tissues.  It was a really fun and exciting time to be in Tissue Engineering, as everything was so new. I have kept my love of the tissue engineering and biofabrication fields alive when I started my current company, RoosterBio.

Jenny: Who inspired you the most along this journey in 3D printing bio-fabrication?

Rowley: I would say that my PhD advisor was the major inspiration when it came to solidifying my commitment to the biofabrication and tissue engineering field.  Dave Mooney was an inspiration on the technology, first and formost. But Dave also drove home many of the values that he picked up during his time working with his PhD co-advisors Bob Langer (an engineer) and Jay Vacanti (an MD).  The key messages being that the field of tissue engineering and biofabrication are quite multidisciplinary, requiring experts in chemical engineering, materials science, cell biology, medicine and surgery. Achieving success in this field does require diverse teams that work together and are able to put egos aside to achieve what hasn’t been accomplished before. As the field of tissue engineering moves from a research-focused field towards a clinically- and commercially-focused field, then experts in software, production hardware (the 3D printers), cell production (the most critical raw material of engineered tissues and organs), biomaterial scaffolds/bioinks, and tissue biopreservation are all required to make the product, and experts in medicine, clinical trial design, quality and regulatory to get the product through the regulatory authorities. Working with diverse teams of people throughout industry is what keeps things exciting and interesting for me.

Jenny: What motivates you the most for your work?

Rowley: I have 3 things that tremendously motivate me:

Being in a position to truly impact the direction of a field is extremely motivating. The team at RoosterBio have established a new business model within the field that is removing multiple barriers to the commercial translation of 3D bio-fabricated products.  As Alan Kay once said “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”, and we are doing just that.

My wife and kids are a massive motivating factor for me – they are my biggest cheerleaders and the ones that keep me grounded in life – and help me make the most out of every day.

Lastly, the tremendous team of irrationally dedicated individuals at RoosterBio that work tirelessly to get our game changing products to market so that biofabrication technologies will impact human health at a faster pace – while having fun and supporting each other through our ups and downs. Seeing all of our hard work pay off is extremely motivating to me.

Jenny: What is/are the biggest obstacle(s) in your line of work? If you have conquered them, what were your solutions?

Rowley: As the only truly limited resource, using time to the fullest is something I’m always looking to do. Prioritization of opportunities is key – getting unfocused can be devastating for small businesses. The best, and really the only way, to conquer the obstacles that we face at RoosterBio is to focus our amazing team on specific challenges and let them work through the various problems together. Being such a multi-disciplinary company with challenging issues, it requires several experts to weigh in on before a solution emerges.

Jenny: What do you think is (are) the biggest challenge(s) in 3D Printing/bio-printing? What do you think the potential solution(s) is (are)?

Rowley: 3d printing of human tissues requires vast numbers of cells, at least hundreds of millions per tissue, and often billions to tens of billions to manufacture even small numbers of consistent tissue lots.  Obtaining these cell numbers is both technically and economically challenging. RoosterBio was founded to break down the technical and cost barrier of generating billions of cells, truly democratizing this piece of the biofabrication puzzle.  We have radically simplified the production to the point that anyone can now generate vast quantities of high quality cells – getting more projects into development, into the clinic, and eventually onto the market.

Jenny: What advice would you give to a smart driven college student in the “real world”? What bad advices you heard should they ignore?

Rowley: Perfect is the enemy of great – live by the 80:20 rule and get imperfect products out into the world for rapid feedback – and then build on the successes and know when to cut your losses and move on.

Advice to ignore:  Many people don’t believe that innovation can be managed, or should be managed. They are wrong. There is a process to innovation that can be learned and implemented….. without proper oversight, almost everything will go off course. Learn how to manage, and everything will be OK.  Not everything will work or be successful, but you greatly increase your chances of success with basic management principles.

Jenny: If you could have a giant billboard to promote a message to millions and even billions of people in our community (i.e. healthcare 3D printing and bio-fabrication), what message would that be?

Rowley: “The best way to predict the future is the invent it.” Alan Kay.  What this means to me is to go out and make things that fit into your world view – prove it can be done and more people will do it.

Jenny: What were/was the best investment you made in 3D printing/bio-printing/bio-fabrication?

Rowley: Easy: Starting RoosterBio. The dividends from the learning I have had and the friendships I have started while building the RoosterBio business are immeasurable.

Jenny: What were/was the worst investment you made in 3D printing/bio-printing/bio-fabrication?

Rowley: I bought a first version 3D printing pen at MakerFair way before they worked well…… it lasted a weekend.

Jenny: What was/is the biggest risk you took in your career?

Rowley: Leaving a stable, established, good-paying job and cashing in my kids college fund to start my own company was by far the biggest risk I have taken… and I would do it all over again even if RoosterBio had failed.  Life is a journey, not a destination.

Jenny: What do you enjoy in your spare time? What are you passionate about outside of your work/3d printing?

Rowley: I focus most of my time outside of RoosterBio with my wife and three grade school children – bringing up future scientist-engineers and teaching them to relish in nerdiness and “to be awesome always”.

Jenny: What does the word “3DHEALS” mean to you?  =)

Rowley: Biofabrication of medical products is central to the success of Regenerative Medicine. Let’s stop treating disease, and start curing them!

The post Interview: Jon Rowley, Founder & Chief Product Officer, RoosterBio appeared first on 3DHeals.

Dr. Alexander Seifalian is the Director and Professor of Nanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine, Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine Commercialisation Centre (Ltd) His current projects have led to the development of cardiovascular implants using nanomaterials and stem cell technology, and the development of organs using tissue engineering and nanoparticles for detection and treatment of cancer. He has also developed a family of nanomaterials and nanocomposite polymers for a range of biomedical applications.
He was awarded the top prize in the field for the development of nanomaterials and technologies for cardiovascular implants in 2007 by Medical Future Innovation, and in 2009 received a Business Innovation Award from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in the Life Sciences and Healthcare category.
More recently (2011), he developed a lacrimal drainage conduit, vascular bypass graft, and trachea made from nanocomposite polymers and stem cells and delivered them from the laboratory directly to patients. In addition, he is also taking a further three products to clinical trials within the next three year, which include a coronary artery bypass graft in 2012, a transcatheter heart valve in 2013 (both funded by the Wellcome Trust), and a nerve conduit for nerve regeneration funded by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).
We are honored to have Professor Alexander Seifalian as our speaker for our upcoming London event on Feb 8th, 2018.
JC: When was the first encounter you had with 3D printing? What was the experience like? What were you thinking at that moment?
AS: The first encounter I had with 3D printing was when I bought my first 3D printer in 2009. I bought it online from the USA for $230 and put them together at home and just printing bits and pieces for fun. Later, printed 3D model of a heart valve from a CT scan. This was shown to cardiologists and they found it interesting for clinical application.
JC: What inspired you to start your journey/research in 3D printing (bio-fabrication/bioprinting)?
AS: I work on human organs using nanocomposite materials as a 3D scaffold and stem cells; my interest was to print human organs, including facial organs such as ear, nose, and trachea. I have obtained large grants from research councils working on 3D bioprinters.
JC: Who else inspired you the most along this journey in 3D printing (bioprinting/fabrication)? This can be a mentor, a patient, a celebrity, anyone basically. You can name more than one as well.
AS:  Initially, what inspired me was watching videos on “youtube”, just looking at various printing for industrial applications. Later on, a medical student who was doing his research project with me, Mr. Nicolaas van Rensburg, wanted to work on 3D printers to print 3D scaffolds for human applications in ear development. The first 3D printer we bought for work.
JC: What motivates you the most for your work?
AS: Positive outcomes are what motivates me the most, such as the benefits provided to the patients or to industries, within a defined timescale.
JC: What is/are the biggest obstacle(s) in your work? If you have conquered them, what were your solutions?
AS: As an academic, the biggest obstacle is always spending time chasing grants and finance as well as finding people with the same self-driven attitude as myself.
JC: What advice would you give to a smart driven student in the “real world”? What bad advice you heard should they ignore?
AS: I have successfully supervised 121 Ph.D. students during my academic career, my advice to all my students has always been to first spend at least 3-6 months reading and reviewing the proposed research, possibly also writing a critical review article, and then embarking on the research, by now knowing exactly what they want to do. Spend 70% of your time reading and writing and only 30% of your time in the lab.
The bad advice they should ignore is to just start by going into the lab and doing no reading to initially learn the subject.
JC: If you could have a giant billboard to promote a message to millions and even billions of people in our community (i.e. healthcare 3D printing and bio-fabrication), what message would that be?
AS: Think hard about what you want to develop and ask the end user if they want such a product. At the same time, ensure they can afford it, both their time and the final cost.
JC: What were/was the best investment you made in 3D printing/bio-printing/bio-fabrication?
AS: Purchasing $300 worth of printer parts and putting it together.
JC: What was/is the biggest risk you took in your career?
AS: The risk I took was taking R&D forward came from avoiding some of the administrative paperwork.
JC: What do you enjoy in your spare time? What are you passionate about outside of your work/3d printing?
AS: In my spare time, I enjoy playing chess and reading innovative work carried out by smart individuals within society through thinking outside the box. At same time love going out and socializing.

Meet Dr. Seifalian at our upcoming London event.   

The post Interview: Professor Alexander Seifalian appeared first on 3DHeals.

Henrique Almeida is a Professor of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the School for Technology and Management from the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria.
He graduated in Mechanical Engineering at the School for Technology and Management. He then went to Superior Institute of Technology of the Technical University of Lisbon to obtain his Master Degree of Science in Engineering Design. Has a PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Aveiro.
At ESTG, he lectures Antropometrics, Ergonomics and Human Factors, Biofabrication and Biomechanical Design.
He is an External Collaborator of the Manchester Biomanufacturing Centre of the University of Manchester, Founding Member of the “International Society on Biofabrication” and Member of the European Biomechanics Society, and Member of the organising committees of the following conferences: 3D Printing Symposium – Additive Manufacturing and Functional Materials, International Conference on Sustainable Smart Manufacturing (S2M), International Conference on Tissue Engineering an ECCOMAS Thematic Conference (ICTE), International Conference on Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping (VRAP), International Conference on Sustainable Intelligent Manufacturing (SIM) and Congresso Nacional de Biomecânica.
Member of the Editorial Board of journals from Springer and Emerald and Member of the Review Editorial Board of several journals from Frontiers.
Participates and participated in several research projects funded by the following agencies: Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Ciencia Y Tecnologia Para El Desarrollo (CYTED), Portuguese Agency of Inovation (ADI), PRODER, IAPMEI, British Council, European Commission Projects and the People Marie Curie Actions Program of the International Research Staff Exchange Scheme of the European Commission.
Jenny: What inspired you to work in 3D printing/bioprinting field?
Henrique: It began with my master science degree.
Jenny: What is the biggest motivation for your work?
Henrique: Being able to contribute positively to healthcare. With 3D printing/bioprinting, the possibilities are unlimited, except for the capability of producing multi-cell structures for tissue/organ replacement.
Jenny: What is the biggest challenge in your work?
Henrique: The biggest challenge is being able to predict the mechanical and vascular properties of tissue engineering scaffolds during all stages of the process, from production, cell-seeding, bioreactor growth, implantation, degradation and body absorption. The prediction of its properties is a critical issue for the success or failure of the scaffolds.
Jenny: How do you approach working with people with different backgrounds?
Henrique: Always open to other suggestions and open to creating collaborations.
Jenny: How do you plan to conquer this challenge?
Henrique: Hard work and many collaborations in order to fully understand every step of the process.
Jenny: What is your vision on the potential impact of your current work to the future of medicine?
Henrique: By being able to predict the mechanical properties, better and more porous scaffolds may be produced allowing high cell ingrowth and exchange of nutrients along with a higher mechanical strength.
Jenny: What is the biggest change/improvement since last year this time?
Henrique: The new materials and processing conditions of those same materials.
Jenny: What are you passionate about?
Henrique: The global application of 3D printing/bioprinting in the medical field.
Jenny: What is the biggest risk you took in your career?
Henrique: Accepting this topic as my master of science thesis. Before I begin, I didn’t know what I was getting into. Then time passed with no regrets, and when I decided to continue the same work for my doctoral degree.
Jenny: What do you enjoy in your spare time?
Henrique: Time with my family.
 

The post Interview: Professor Henrique Amorim Almeida appeared first on 3DHeals.