MRI: Acquisition of a Multimaterial 3-D Bioplotter for Interdisciplinary Research and Education

阿拉巴马州立大学(ASU)的前沿研究专注于开发有助于骨组织、肝脏置换和牙齿组织再生的材料和结构。这些材料被称为支架。拟议中的3D生物打印机将使研究人员能够以非常精确的方式构建这些支架。3D打印机将用于支持研究和教育K-12、本科生和研究生院的学生，包括代表人数不足的群体。它将使亚利桑那州立大学生物医学工程、生物学和化学专业的科学家和学生以及全州的其他科学家受益。教师、博士后研究人员和研究生将在他们的研究中使用打印机。该打印机还将被大约25名参与亚利桑那州立大学当前项目(例如，NSF本科生研究体验网站(REU)和路易斯·斯托克斯少数人参与联盟(LSAMP))以及亚利桑那州立大学科学和技术荣誉计划以及高级设计项目的本科生使用。该项目提议购买一台多材料生物绘图仪，以创建附属于阿拉巴马州立大学、亚利桑那州立大学、科学、数学与技术学院和纳米生物技术中心的多用户组织支架制造设施。该设施将支持一些多学科的研究和教育活动，涉及生物医学工程、生物学、化学和物理学的研究人员。亚利桑那州立大学的前沿研究集中在用于骨组织的纳米和微结构、成分分级的多相聚合物支架、用于肝脏置换的三维多孔支架和牙科组织应用。在了解这些材料的基本方面、加工、结构和功能方面的进展取决于是否有能力精确地制造出更接近细胞外基质的三维支架。这台最先进的生物绘图仪将是研究支持和K-12、本科和研究生院学生教育不可或缺的一部分，包括代表人数不足的群体的学生。申请的仪器将支持一些国家科学基金会资助的项目，并有必要在亚利桑那州立大学继续开展工作，从根本上了解各种三维生物材料的制造、结构和功能问题。至少有3门生物医学工程和生物学的研究生和本科生将使用该仪器。此外，约有20名教职员工、博士后和研究生将使用该仪器。大约25名本科生将通过资助的研究项目、NSF本科生研究经验网站、Louis Stokes少数民族参与联盟、LSAMP、亚利桑那州立大学科学和技术荣誉计划以及高级设计使用该工具。该仪器的收购将增强K-12扩展项目中提供的演示，包括亚利桑那州立大学STEM学院。

Cutting-edge research at Alabama State University (ASU) is focused on developing materials and structures that can aid in the regeneration of bone tissue, liver replacements, and dental tissue. These materials are known as scaffolds. The proposed 3-D bioprinter will enable researchers to build these scaffolds in a very precise manner. The 3-D printer will be used to support research and educate students in K-12, undergraduate and graduate school, including students in underrepresented groups. It will benefit scientists and students at ASU in Biomedical Engineering, Biology and Chemistry as well as other scientists across the state. Faculty members, post-doctoral researchers and graduate students will utilize the printer in their research. The printer will also be used by approximately 25 undergraduate students involved in current projects at ASU (e.g, the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates site (REU) and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP)), as well as the ASU Science and Technology Honors Program, and in Senior Design projects.The project proposes the acquisition of a multimaterial bioplotter to create a multiuser tissue scaffold fabrication facility affiliated with the Alabama State University, ASU, College of Science, Math and Technology and the Center for NanoBiotechnology. The facility will support a number of multidisciplinary research and education activities involving investigators from Biomedical Engineering, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Cutting-edge research at ASU is focused on nano and microstructured, compositionally-graded, multiphase polymeric scaffolds for bone tissue, 3-D porous scaffolds for liver replacement, and dental tissue applications. Progress in the understanding of fundamental aspects of the, processing, structure and function of these materials is contingent upon the ability to precisely fabricate 3-dimensional scaffolds that more closely mimic the extracellular matrix. This state-of-the-art bioplotter will be integral to research support and also to the education of students in K-12, undergraduate school, and graduate school, including students in underrepresented groups. The requested instrument will support a number of funded NSF projects, and is necessary to continue at ASU the work in the fundamental understanding of the fabrication, structure and function issues for a variety of 3-dimensional biomaterials. At least 3 graduate and undergraduate courses in Biomedical Engineering and Biology will use the instrument. Additionally, approximately 20 faculty, post-docs and graduate students will utilize the instrument. Approximately 25 undergraduate students will utilize this instrument through funded research projects, the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates site, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, LSAMP, ASU Science and Technology Honors Program, and in Senior Design. The acquisition of this instrument will enhance demonstrations to be offered in K-12 outreach programs, including ASU STEM Academy.