@phdthesis{Kade2023,
  author    = {Kade, Juliane Carolin},
  title     = {Expanding the Processability of Polymers for a High-Resolution 3D Printing Technology},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-27005},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-270057},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {This thesis identifies how the printing conditions for a high-resolution additive manufacturing technique, melt electrowriting (MEW), needs to be adjusted to process electroactive polymers (EAPs) into microfibers. Using EAPs based on poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF), their ability to be MEW-processed is studied and expands the list of processable materials for this technology.},
  subject      = {Polymere},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hrynevich2021,
  author    = {Hrynevich, Andrei},
  title     = {Enhancement of geometric complexity and predictability of melt electrowriting for biomedical applications},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-24764},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-247642},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {This thesis encompasses the development of the additive manufacturing technology melt electrowriting, in order to achieve the improved applicability in biomedical applications and design of scaffolds. Melt electrowriting is a process capable of producing highly resolved structures from microscale fibres. Nevertheless, there are parameters influencing the process and it has not been clear how they affect the printing result. In this thesis the influence of the processing and environmental parameters is investigated with the impact on their effect on the jet speed, fibre diameter and scaffold morphology, which has not been reported in the literature to date and significantly influences the printing quality. It was demonstrated that at higher ambient printing temperatures the fibres can be hampered to the extent that the individual fibres are completely molten together and increased air humidity intensifies this effect. It was also shown how such parameters as applied voltage, collector distance, feed pressure and polymer temperature influence the fibre diameter and critical translation speed. Based on these results, a detailed investigation of the fibre diameter control and printing of scaffolds with novel architectures was made. As an example, a 20-fold diameter ratio is obtained within one scaffold by changing the collector speed and the feed pressure during the printing process. Although the pressure change caused fibre diameter oscillations, different diameter fibres were successfully integrated into two scaffold designs, which were tested for mesenchymal stromal cell suspension and adipose tissue spheroid seeding. Further design and manufacturing aspects are discussed while jet attraction to the printed structures is illuminated in connection with the fibre positioning control of the multilayer scaffolds. The artefacts that appear with the increasing scaffold height of sinusoidal laydown patterns are counteracted by layer-by-layer path adjustment. For the prediction of a printing error of the first deposited layer, an algorithm is developed, that utilizes an empirical jet lag equation and the speed of fibre deposition. This model was able to predict the position of the printing fibre with up to ten times smaller error than the of the programmed path. The same model allows to qualitatively assess the fibre diameter change along the nonlinear pattern as well as to indicate the areas of the greatest pattern deformation with the growing scaffold height. Those results will be used in the later chapters for printing of the novel MEW structures for biomedical applications. In the final chapter the concept of multimodal scaffold was combined with the suspended fibre printing, for the manufacturing of the MEW scaffolds with controlled pore interconnectivity in three dimensions. Those scaffolds were proven to be a promising substate for the control of the neurite spreading of the chick DRG neurons.},
  subject      = {Elektrospinnen},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Bakirci2024,
  author    = {Bakirci, Ezgi},
  title     = {Development of \(In\) \(vitro\) Models for Tissue Engineering Applications Using a High-Resolution 3D Printing Technology},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-25164},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-251645},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2024},
  abstract  = {In vitro models mimic the tissue-specific anatomy and play essential roles in personalized medicine and disease treatments. As a sophisticated manufacturing technology, 3D printing overcomes the limitations of traditional technologies and provides an excellent potential for developing in vitro models to mimic native tissue. This thesis aims to investigate the potential of a high-resolution 3D printing technology, melt electrowriting (MEW), for fabricating in vitro models. MEW has a distinct capacity for depositing micron size fibers with a defined design. In this thesis, three approaches were used, including 1) extending the MEW polymer library for different biomedical applications, 2) developing in vitro models for evaluation of cell growth and migration toward the different matrices, and 3) studying the effect of scaffold designs and biochemical cues of microenvironments on cells. First, we introduce the MEW processability of (AB)n and (ABAC)n segmented copolymers, which have thermally reversible network formulation based on physical crosslinks. Bisurea segments are combined with hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) or hydrophilic poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) (PPO-PEG-PPO) segments to form the (AB)n segmented copolymers. (ABAC)n segmented copolymers contain all three segments: in addition to bisurea, both hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments are available in the same polymer chain, resulting in tunable mechanical and biological behaviors. MEW copolymers either support cells attachment or dissolve without cytotoxic side effects when in contact with the polymers at lower concentrations, indicating that this copolymer class has potential in biological applications. The unique biological and surface properties, transparency, adjustable hydrophilicity of these copolymers could be beneficial in several in vitro models. The second manuscript addresses the design and development of a melt electrowritten competitive 3D radial migration device. The approach differs from most of the previous literature, as MEW is not used here to produce cell invasive scaffolds but to fabricate an in vitro device. The device is utilized to systematically determine the matrix which promotes cell migration and growth of glioblastoma cells. The glioblastoma cell migration is tested on four different Matrigel concentrations using a melt electrowritten radial device. The glioblastoma U87 cell growth and migration increase at Matrigel concentrations 6 and 8 mg mL-1 In the development of this radial device, the accuracy, and precision of melt electrowritten circular shapes were investigated. The results show that the printing speed and design diameter are essential parameters for the accuracy of printed constructs. It is the first instance where MEW is used for the production of in vitro devices. The influence of biochemical cues and scaffold designs on astrocytes and glioblastoma is investigated in the last manuscript. A fiber comprising the box and triangle-shaped pores within MEW scaffolds are modified with biochemical cues, including RGD and IKVAV peptides using a reactive NCO-sP(EO-stat-PO) macromer. The results show that astrocytes and glioblastoma cells exhibit different phenotypes on scaffold designs and peptide-coated scaffolds.},
  subject      = {3D-Druck},
  language  = {en}
}