Equipment for developing a novel solid freeform fabrication (SFF) workstation to produce anatomically shaped biodegradable scaffolds with heterogeneous internal architectures

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This Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) proposal aims at purchasing several components to establish a novel solid freeform fabrication workstation employed in the manufacturing of biodegradable scaffolds/substrates with heterogeneous internal architectures. Incorporation of the requested components in this novel workstation adds a new dimension to the fabrication of anatomically-shaped scaffolds/substrates by enabling the following capabilities: (i) incorporation of variable powder sizes across scaffolds/substrates, (ii) creation of conformal passages, (iii) creation of controlled, pre-determined porosity distribution in desired orientations, (iv) control of compaction force during the production of scaffolds/substrates, (v) selective injection of polymeric elements and nano-particles on non-planar surfaces, and (vi) insertion of a sacrificial porogen material to control the level of macro-porosity in desired regions of the scaffolds/ substrates.