Next Generation Manufacturing of 3D Active Surface Coatings

下一代 3D 活性表面涂层制造

• 批准号: EP/M020738/2
• 负责人: Paul Roach
• 金额: $ 14.15万
• 依托单位: Loughborough University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2017 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FM020738%2F2
• 关键词: Next; Generation; Manufacturing; 3D; Active

We live in an exciting point in history where technology is advancing at a phenomenal rate, with precision manufacture playing a major part in modern day products. Additive manufacturing, making use of 3D printers, has been exploited over the past decade to a point where such instrumentation is considered to be at a peak in its technology life cycle. Reaching their maximum potential, 3D printers enable high resolution structures to be produced, although suffer from the limitation that the entire structure is defined by the material components, albeit that the most advanced manufacturing devices can support many materials simultaneously. The surface properties of any material are of key importance to the performance of the overall object - a simple example being that a waterproofing surface agent adds massive performance-related value to devices intended for use in the open elements. Advanced medical devices are now being fabricated using additive manufacturing techniques, with defined pores supporting tissue in-growth, and surface roughness being fabricated to enhance integration of implantable devices into bone. The most recent examples include manufacture of a jaw prosthesis, designer skull and facial plates. At a time when we are beginning to understand how to use surface properties to unlock the potential of stem cells for regenerative therapies, each of these example devices lacks the specific surface chemical patterns that could promote desired cellular responses during implantation. Thus, we are looking for novel manufacturing methods to pull research findings from the laboratory into usable devices.In the last decade, researchers, including ourselves, have understood that the biological niche is highly complex, with many proteinatious species harmoniously controlling the way cells adhere to materials, and how the (bio)materials interface dictates the progression of cellular response. We have extended our current ability to surface coat with simple chemicals, developing a tool for the patterning of (bio)chemicals onto surfaces. Here we will further develop this technology to allow modification of surfaces in both 2D and 3D, advancing the instrumentation to a point where it can be combined with the benefits of current 3D printers. We propose the next generation of 3D printers to include the ability to chemically pattern during production, allowing defined surface characteristics on and within a 3D structure. This technology will pave the way for translation of surface science into 3-dimensions, driving the development of enhanced devices. We give the example of impact through medical device manufacture, with other sectors also directly benefiting from the extended manufacturing capabilities of the developed instrumentation. These will include precision manufacture within electronics, energy harvest and energy storage devices, where direct-writing of thin film chemical (and electrically conductive) materials will enable miniaturization and enhanced performance. Throughout the project we will engage with multidisciplinary communities to promote the technology, and where possible allow other to use the equipment to manufacture products related to their own field.

我们生活在一个激动人心的历史时刻，技术正以惊人的速度发展，精密制造在现代产品中发挥着重要作用。在过去的十年中，利用3D打印机的增材制造已经被开发到了这样一个地步，即这种仪器被认为处于其技术生命周期的高峰。3D打印机发挥其最大潜力，可以生产高分辨率结构，尽管受到整个结构由材料成分定义的限制，尽管最先进的制造设备可以同时支持多种材料。任何材料的表面特性对整个物体的性能都至关重要-一个简单的例子是防水表面剂为用于开放元件的设备增加了大量的性能相关价值。先进的医疗器械现在正在使用增材制造技术制造，具有支持组织向内生长的限定孔，并且制造表面粗糙度以增强可植入器械与骨的整合。最近的例子包括制造颌骨假体、设计师头骨和面部板。当我们开始了解如何使用表面特性来释放干细胞用于再生治疗的潜力时，这些示例装置中的每一个都缺乏可以在植入期间促进所需细胞反应的特定表面化学模式。因此，我们正在寻找新的制造方法，将实验室的研究成果转化为可用的设备。在过去的十年中，包括我们在内的研究人员已经了解到生物生态位是非常复杂的，许多蛋白质物种和谐地控制着细胞粘附材料的方式，以及（生物）材料界面如何决定细胞反应的进展。我们已经扩展了我们目前的能力，用简单的化学品进行表面涂层，开发了一种将（生物）化学品图案化到表面上的工具。在这里，我们将进一步开发这项技术，以允许在2D和3D中修改表面，将仪器推进到可以与当前3D打印机的优势相结合的程度。我们建议下一代3D打印机包括在生产过程中进行化学图案化的能力，允许在3D结构上和内部定义表面特征。这项技术将为将表面科学转化为三维技术铺平道路，推动增强型设备的发展。我们给出了通过医疗器械制造产生影响的例子，其他部门也直接受益于所开发仪器的扩展制造能力。这些将包括电子、能量收集和能量存储设备中的精密制造，其中薄膜化学（和导电）材料的直接写入将实现小型化和增强性能。在整个项目中，我们将与多学科社区合作，以推广该技术，并在可能的情况下允许其他人使用该设备制造与自己领域相关的产品。