Gelatin Structure Production via Thermoplastic Support and Phase Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming gelatin structures as cell scaffolds face challenges in maintaining shape and reliably integrating gelatin into the body, particularly with the use of dummy members and support materials like polyethylene glycol, where complete removal is difficult and shape maintenance is inconsistent.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the formation of a biocompatible material structure using thermoplastic and water-soluble materials, which are jetted into droplets, coated with gelatin, and then shaped within a container, allowing the gelatin to harden and transfer the structure's shape while delaying the dissolution of the biocompatible material until the gelatin solidifies, ensuring the shape is maintained and integrated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gelatin is used as a dummy member in three-dimensional structure formation, then the structure can be formed with biocompatible material, but the shape cannot be maintained under normal temperature conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter to control gelatin's physical state. By maintaining low temperature during 3D printing, gelatin remains solid and maintains shape. After printing, temperature is raised to melt gelatin for removal, leaving hollow structures. This parameter change enables both shape maintenance during fabrication and subsequent removal for creating hollow spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of gelatin between solid and liquid states. During printing, gelatin is in solid phase to maintain structural integrity. After printing, heating causes melting (solid to liquid transition) enabling removal. This phase transition mechanism solves the contradiction between needing shape maintenance during printing and shape loss for removal.
2Ease of operation
If polyethylene glycol is used as support material, then the support function is provided, but complete removal by solvent is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the support function from the final product by using a sacrificial material (gelatin) that is completely removed after serving its purpose. The gelatin dummy member provides support during printing but is subsequently melted and removed, leaving no residual support material in the final hollow structure. This extraction principle ensures complete removal unlike polyethylene glycol.
3Ease of manufacture
If gelatin is melted and jetted as droplets to form structure, then the structure can be formed, but shape maintenance becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cooling action before and during the jetting process. The gelatin material is pre-cooled to maintain solid state, and cooling is applied during deposition to ensure each droplet maintains its shape. This preliminary and continuous cooling action prevents premature melting and ensures consistent shape formation throughout the printing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively forms a gelatin structure with a maintained three-dimensional shape, ensuring reliable integration and stability by delaying the dissolution of the biocompatible material until the gelatin hardens, thus overcoming previous issues with shape retention and integration.
Implementation Method 1
jetting a liquid obtained by melting a biocompatible material that is solid at normal temperature, the biocompatible material being water-soluble and thermoplastic, into a droplet state through a nozzle unit, stacking the biocompatible material on a liquid landing surface, which is a surface of a substrate where liquid droplets land
Implementation Method 2
a gelatin structure forming step of attaching gelatin to the periphery of the biocompatible material structure having the surface coated with the coating film formed in the coating film forming step, and thereby forming a gelatin structure; wherein the gelatin is attached by pouring a gelatin solution into the container; a shaping step of shaping the gelatin structure formed in the gelatin structure forming step into a predetermined shape; said shaping step comprising the hardening of the gelatin solution into an external shape corresponding to the shape of the container
Implementation Method 3
a dissolving step of dissolving at least a portion of the biocompatible material structure by utilizing the water on the biocompatible material structure, and transferring a shape of the biocompatible material structure to an interior of the gelatin structure
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 1E~1H
Figure 1I~2
AI summary
A method for producing a gelatin structure, the method including forming a three-dimensional structure having a hollow part using gelatin as a material, is provided, and a gelatin structure production system is provided. A biocompatible material structure having a three-dimensional structure is formed by jetting a liquid obtained by melting a biocompatible material that is solid at normal temperature and is water-soluble and thermoplastic, through a nozzle unit (18); and stacking the biocompatible material on a liquid landing surface (12A) of a substrate (12). The surface of the biocompatible material structure is coated with a coating film (24) containing gelatin, gelatin (30) is attached to the periphery of the biocompatible material structure to form a gelatin structure (32), the gelatin structure is shaped, the biocompatible material structure is dissolved, and the shape of the biocompatible material structure is transferred to the interior of the gelatin structure. For the formation of the biocompatible material structure, a first biocompatible material, or a third biocompatible material obtained by mixing a second biocompatible material with the first biocompatible material, is used.