ERI: Nondestructive in-situ Evaluation of Bio-printed Constructs Using Video-based Vibrometry

生物添加剂制造(BIO-AM)在快速制造高度定制化的生物医疗设备和植入物方面显示出巨大的前景。然而，BIO-AM的一个关键障碍是印刷质量大大低于所需的工业标准，部分原因是缺乏有效的现场监测和控制方法来消除缺陷。这项工程研究启动(ERI)拨款将支持旨在建立基于非接触式振动监测的基础研究，以识别正在制造的生物结构的结构缺陷。该研究成果有望通过实现生物AM的潜力和增强美国在生物经济中的竞争力，对公共卫生和生物医学领域产生广泛的社会经济影响。该综合研究和教育计划与生物制造和生物技术的国家优先事项保持一致，将激发学生对生物制造的兴趣，让本科生和研究生接触到生物AM的研究前沿，并培养为生物经济做好准备的下一代劳动力。了解缺陷的形成机理是制造高质量生物材料的关键。现有的大多数生物材料传感方法都要求传感器附着在附加制造部件的表面。由于生物结构的软性和轻量性，接触式传感器可能不适用。研究的目的是了解基于视频的非接触式振动测量如何与各种类型的缺陷相关。计划进行三项研究工作：(1)确定新的基于特征的复合材料损伤度量标准，其中包含反映尺寸和嵌入缺陷的振动特征；(2)建立可靠的数值模型，以了解填充模式和常见缺陷等工艺条件如何影响生物结构的模态特性；以及(3)通过基于视频的振动测量来识别水凝胶等生物打印材料的动态特性。该项目产生的数据将为研究界提供一个基准，以推进生物制造和生物技术方面的研究。如果成功，这项研究将极大地改善生物AM器官的结构完整性，增加可获得性，最终拯救生命。拟议的基于振动特征的复合损伤度量将为缺陷的现场自动评估提供新的工具，并可以加快其他领域的传感和分析研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Bio-additive manufacturing (bio-AM) has shown great promise for the rapid manufacturing of highly customized biomedical devices and implants. However, one key barrier of bio-AM is that the print quality is substantially below the required industrial standards, partially because of the lack of effective in-situ monitoring and control methods for defect removal. This Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) grant will support basic research that aims to establish non-contact vibration-based monitoring to identify structural defects of bio-constructs as they are being fabricated. The research outcome is expected to create broad socioeconomic impacts on public health and biomedical fields by realizing the potential of bio-AM and strengthening US competitiveness in bioeconomy. The integrated research and educational program, aligned with the national priorities of biomanufacturing and biotechnology, will stimulate student interest in biomanufacturing, expose undergraduate and graduate students to the research frontiers of bio-AM, and develop the next-generation workforce ready for bioeconomy. Understanding the formation mechanism of defects is critical for manufacturing high-quality biomaterials. Most existing sensing methods for biomaterials require that sensors be attached on the surface of additively manufactured parts. Due to the soft and light-weight nature of bio-constructs, contact-type sensors may not be suitable. The research objective is to understand how the non-contact, video-based vibration measurements are correlated with various types of defects. Three research tasks are planned: (1) identifying novel feature-based composite damage metrics that incorporate vibration features reflecting both dimensional and embedded defects; (2) establishing a reliable numerical model to understand how the modal properties of bio-constructs are affected by process conditions such as infill patterns and common defects; and (3) identifying the dynamic properties of bioprinting materials such as hydrogels via video-based vibrometry. The data generated from the project will provide a benchmark for the research community to advance research in biomanufacturing and biotechnology. If successful, this research will tremendously improve the structural integrity of bio-AM organs and increase the availability, ultimately saving lives. The proposed composite damage metrics based on vibration features will provide a new tool for automated in-situ assessment of defects and can accelerate sensing and analytics research in other fields.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.