Research and Projects
The following research fields are covered by the Centre :
- Work Package 1: Development of equipment and processes
- Work Package 2: Additive manufacturing of materials for bioprocessing
- Work Package 3: Additive manufacturing of materials for implants
- Work Package 4: Bioprinting
- Work Package 5: Printing for medication
- Work Package 6&7: Implementation - organizational and business aspects and Implementation in Clinics
We cover the whole value chain from materials design, equipment design, printed component design, post-processing, materials and component characterization – from basic characterization to in vitro and in vivo testing and to the clinics. Further, to take the product into commercial use, the translation system, and all companies ready to take the innovation further, or go for spin-offs.
OUR IMPACT (status update March 2024):
- 65 collaborative projects
- 12 research exchanges conducted within the centre
- 73 conference contributions, incl. invited talks and conference organization (host of ESB 2027)
- 37 published peer-reviewed papers
- 9 patent applications
- 23 new products/processes/services/methods
- <40 seminars conducted
- 2 summer schools
- 34 graduated Master students and 29 Master theses published
- 8 PhD students directly funded by the Centre
- 13 PhD affiliated students (status Feb. 2024)
- 165 MSEK (15M€) acquired in additional funding
WP1: Development of equipment and processes
Work Package Leader: Prof. Stefan Johansson
OBJECTIVES: We see a need for further development of printing equipment and printing processes. e.g., the available equipment cannot print biocompatible composites with sufficiently high (sub-µm) resolution. Furthermore, there is a need for incorporating electronic functionality, contrast agents etc into the printed parts, to achieve smart materials and implants. This is a theme of interest to many stakeholders, as fundamental knowledge and processes relevant to several other themes will be developed.
Main goal for this work package is to develop high resolution printing processes and equipment to replace most of the present microelectronics-based microsystems technology used in life science applications with sub-micrometre 3D printing methods.
Our mission is to identify and develop functional life science demonstrators that benefit from high detail resolution 3D-printing.
Project 1: The goal of the collaboration project between WP 1 and WP3 together with our industrial partner Graphmatech is to integrate sensors and actuators, creating smart/intelligent materials, for general life science applications.
Project 2: WP1 includes procurement of printing equipment as well as development of equipment and processes and this activity involves our industrial partner AFRY.
WP 2. Additive Manufacturing of Materials for Bioprocessing
Work Package Leader: Klas Marteleur, Cytiva
OBJECTIVES: AM shows great potential for bioprocess applications but there are also challenges before it can be applied in certain applications and products. These challenges can be related to cost, materials, surfaces or even regulatory requirements and will be worked on in this work package.
The main goal of this work package is to create innovative technology for BioProcess. Here, we are looking into various possible materials that can be used, primary polymers but also metals, and different printing and post processing methods to meet our requirements. We are also investigating the reasons behind why some materials and surfaces are more suitable for our applications than others.
Our mission is to find materials, tools and methods that can be used to print parts for BioProcess applications.
WP 3. Additive Manufacturing of Materials for Implants
Work Package Leader: Prof. Cecilia Persson, Uppsala University
OBJECTIVES: Additive manufacturing has enabled patient-specific implants to be produced in an affordable way. However, most implants are still non-degradable. One of the main aims of this theme is to develop 3D-printed materials that can degrade in the body while being replaced by the patient’s own tissue, thereby eliminating the need for a second surgery if the implant needs to be removed, and reducing the risk for infection, since bacteria can adhere to and grow on dead material, like implants. With the increasing bacterial resistance worldwide, this has become a pressing matter. In this WP we also aim to use additive manufacturing to enable the use of more biocompatible materials in tribological applications, as well as enhanced implant structures that can accelerate bone ingrowth.
Our mission is to use additive manufacturing to develop new materials and implants that allow for improved clinical performance - e.g. replacement of the implant with the body’s own tissue when no longer needed; less wear and hence less complications of components in biotribological applications; antibacterial components on demand.
WP 4. Bioprinting
Work Package Leader: Prof. Johan Kreuger
OBJECTIVES: The main focus of this work package is to develop bioprinting technologies to be able to create tissue constructs, with the goal of creating high precision in vitro models for research and drug screening and also tissue constructs for transplantation studies. We aim to develop bioprinting of models that can be used in cancer research, and bioprinting of bone, design and identify bioinks with optimal biological properties, we also develop and implement new bioprinting technologies (hardware). One of the ultimate long-term goals of this work package is to be able to create bioprinted tissues with tailor-made geometries containing a variety of specific cells in functionally relevant locations for transplantation.
Our mission is to conduct leading research in bioprinting in Sweden and in the world and to develop and implement new technologies for bioprinting, with a particular focus on bioprinting of models for cancer research and drug screening, and also bioprinting of tissues (e.g. bone) for transplantation.
WP 5. Printing for Medication
Work Package Leader: Dr. Jonas Lindh
OBJECTIVES:
The overall objective of this work package is to create the scientific and technological basis for additive manufacturing of medications enhanced by mesoporous excipients. The project will develop new mesoporous structures of biocompatible and-safe-to-eat material components, which will be loaded with Application Programming Interface. The research results may lead to the use of AM techniques for personalized medication and for local production of medications at hospital pharmacies.
Our mission is to bring personalized additively manufactured medications to the clinic.
WP 6 - 7. Implementation: Organizational and Business Aspects / Implementation in Clinics
Work Package Leaders: Assist. Prof. Anders Brantnell (WP6) and Prof. Andreas Thor (WP7)
OBJECTIVES:
The main objective for this work package is to guide development, introduction and adoption of new treatments based on additive manufacturing as well as support competence centre with analysis on ecosystem formation and development in the field of additive manufacturing and related aspects connected to biomedical engineering and life science applications.
Our mission is to gather relevant expertise in the field of adoption and business models in additive manufacturing and provide guidance to different stakeholders concerning development, introduction and adoption of additive manufacturing in healthcare.
The following long-term goals are now set for Work Package Implementation in Clinics (WP7):
- To develop strong collaborations internally in the Center with other WPs and partners
- To attract more clinicians from Region Uppsala and other regions and boost interaction with other competence centers at Uppsala University: MTSI, Center for Image analysis.