Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
Biomaterial ink production for 3D printing
In this master thesis project, we will focus on optimizing the production of nanoparticles and microparticles with the use of fluidic particle production devices and advanced filtration techniques. The overall goal of this project is to scale the fabrication of biomaterial ink for 3D printing.
Keywords: Biomaterials, 3D printing, particle production, drug delivery, liposomes
Additive manufacturing is a rapidly evolving field, with potential for several medical applications. In the pharmaceutical sector, 3D printing provides the ability to design new formulations for improved drug delivery. Moreover, this technology will facilitate the fabrication of systems containing multiple active ingredients (polypills or multimodal drugs).[1]
In this project, we aim to optimize the fabrication of nanocapsules used as a building blocks in formulating bioinks for advanced fabrication of 3D drug delivery systems. The first, and main focus, of the project will aim to upscale the production of nanocapsules through microfluidic and tangential flow filtration devices.[2, 3] In the second part of the project, we will formulate biomaterial inks to 3D print drug delivery devices with tunable release profiles.[4] Chemical and mechanical characterization will be performed on produced nanoparticles and biomaterial inks. Moreover, to accelerate the translation of the developed bioinks into the clinic it will be essential that the manufacturing process can be also carried out in a sterile atmosphere.
Techniques and skills:
• Fabrication of microfluidic devices (e.g., co-axial jet mixer or co-axial capillary device)
• Tangential flow filtration protocol optimization
• Chemical characterization (NMR, GPC, HPLC, Cryo-TEM)
• Mechanical characterization (Rheology)
• 3D printing
• Drug release
Additive manufacturing is a rapidly evolving field, with potential for several medical applications. In the pharmaceutical sector, 3D printing provides the ability to design new formulations for improved drug delivery. Moreover, this technology will facilitate the fabrication of systems containing multiple active ingredients (polypills or multimodal drugs).[1] In this project, we aim to optimize the fabrication of nanocapsules used as a building blocks in formulating bioinks for advanced fabrication of 3D drug delivery systems. The first, and main focus, of the project will aim to upscale the production of nanocapsules through microfluidic and tangential flow filtration devices.[2, 3] In the second part of the project, we will formulate biomaterial inks to 3D print drug delivery devices with tunable release profiles.[4] Chemical and mechanical characterization will be performed on produced nanoparticles and biomaterial inks. Moreover, to accelerate the translation of the developed bioinks into the clinic it will be essential that the manufacturing process can be also carried out in a sterile atmosphere.
Techniques and skills: • Fabrication of microfluidic devices (e.g., co-axial jet mixer or co-axial capillary device) • Tangential flow filtration protocol optimization • Chemical characterization (NMR, GPC, HPLC, Cryo-TEM) • Mechanical characterization (Rheology) • 3D printing • Drug release
The project will focus on scaling up and optimizing the production of biomaterial inks used in 3D printing for personalized medicine.
The project will focus on scaling up and optimizing the production of biomaterial inks used in 3D printing for personalized medicine.
Mr. Elia Guzzi: guzzie@ethz.ch
Prof. Mark Tibbitt: mtibbitt@ethz.ch
Mr. Elia Guzzi: guzzie@ethz.ch Prof. Mark Tibbitt: mtibbitt@ethz.ch