Research Theme: 3D Printing and Biofabrication

Our research into 3D printing considers all applications of additive manufacture. We focus on biomedical applications, including the emerging field of biofabrication. Biofabrication combines materials to create structures with a defined biological function. The materials may be natural or synthetic.

Our work involves:

• the design and manufacture of medical devices for inside and outside the body
• processes for making tissues both for regenerative medicine and to create model tissues for drug testing
• 3D printing of novel biomaterials

We work with a range of 3D printing processes. We have also developed our own technologies for bioprinting and biofabrication.

We work with clinical and biological researchers. This ensures that our work is relevant to the needs of patients. We work with industry. This ensures that the approaches we develop are scalable for clinical translation.

Major projects

• GIOTTO: Active aGeIng and Osteoporosis: The next challenge for smarT nanobiOmaterials and 3D Technologies
• Microfluidic Co-cultures for OA Modelling
• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Therapies Centre Versus Arthritis
• EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Additive Manufacture and 3D Printing

Facilities

• Dedicated labs for both 3D printing and biofabrication
• Fused filament fabrication, stereolithography, and binder jetting 3D printing processes
• Inkjet, microvalve and reactive jet impingement biofabrication techniques