Cong Bang Pham, Kah Fai Leong, Tze Chiun Lim and Kerm Sin Chian
The purpose of this paper is to develop a new bio‐plotter using a rapid freeze prototyping (RFP) technique and to investigate its potential applications in fabricating tissue…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a new bio‐plotter using a rapid freeze prototyping (RFP) technique and to investigate its potential applications in fabricating tissue scaffolds.
Design/methodology/approach
The development of cryogenic bio‐plotters including design steps of hardware as well as software is addressed. Effects of structural parameters and process parameters on the properties of tissue scaffolds are demonstrated through simulation and experimental results.
Findings
The paper finds that the RFP method is suitable to fabricate macro‐ and micro‐porous scaffolds, especially for temperature‐sensitive polymers. In addition, through simulation and experiment results, it also shows that macro‐ and micro‐porous properties could be manipulated by structural parameters and process parameters, respectively.
Research limitations/implications
This paper shows that the chamber temperature is an important process parameter that can provide the means to control the micro‐porous structure of the scaffold. However, if the temperature is set too high, the fiber is frozen so rapidly that it cannot be fused with other fibers of the previous layer. On the other hand, if the temperature is too low, the fiber is not solidified fast enough. So, the chamber temperature, together with extruding pressure and nozzle velocity, must be optimized, which will be further investigated in future work.
Originality/value
The RFP technique is successfully proposed to construct 3D tissue scaffolds. In addition, a new cryogenic bio‐plotter is designed and developed, in which general algorithms of rapid prototyping method are presented and implemented, facilitating the fabrication of tissue scaffolds with various cross‐hatching patterns in a RFP process.
Details
Keywords
Sigit and Rachel Shannon Twigivanya
This paper examines Malaysia's perception of China following the Asian Financial Crisis. The Asian Financial Crisis, which occurred in 1997, resulted in a contraction in…
Abstract
This paper examines Malaysia's perception of China following the Asian Financial Crisis. The Asian Financial Crisis, which occurred in 1997, resulted in a contraction in Malaysia's GDP, which resulted in increased unemployment in Malaysia. China is a rising economy. Several bilateral visits and trade missions meet both states to achieve an advantageous economic position. Malaysia's decision to rely on China despite historical events that had sparked tensions between the two countries. Despite Malaysia's economic downturn, the country is taking swift action to address the issue. During the crisis, Malaysia viewed Western countries as irresponsible and allowed the situation to deteriorate, which later became the reason for Malaysia's relationship with China. The crisis, however, has influenced Malaysian Chinese businesses to improve their foreign policy and bilateral relations. This paper contends that Malaysia recognizes the importance of its bilateral relationship with China in stabilizing its economic development and social activity following the crisis.