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3D Bioprinting tailored to your needs

Vitaprint is a 3D bioprinting platform, aimed at being adaptable for use with a broad range of materials and applications, but also accessible to a wider community, while reaching the technical specifications of high-end devices.

HOW IS VITAPRINT DIFFERENT?

Vitaprint offers a cost-effective solution for custom 3D bioprinting requirements.

We believe that the coevolution of ECM materials and fabrication technology will be the key to successful fabrication of complex biomimetic tissues. Instead of selling assembly-line-produced machines, we work together with researchers to develop customized solutions, tailored to their application.

Vitaprint

WHY VITAPRINT?

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine promise new solutions for biomedical research and a future without a shortage of transplantable organs. As a supporting technology 3D bioprinting aims at fabricating tissue matrices to emulate the extracellular matrix.

Advanced materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine need to fulfil complex biological requirements in terms of biocompatibility and structural support. To use them as building blocks for intricate biomimetic scaffolds, adapted fabrication protocols are necessary. Our mission is to aid in this process and provide the development and support for customized hardware and fabrication solutions.

Microfluidics

As the key technology partner we help researchers in science and industry to apply the convenience of 3D bioprinting technology in their specific application and facilitate the transition of ideas into operational devices and procedures.

BENEFITS OF VITAPRINT

Suitable for aseptic work in a laminar flow hood

While having a large printing volume of 200 x 300 x 50 mm (x,y,z), the Vitaprint is truly compact. The motorized piston drive does not require a dangerous, external high-pressure system. Instead the Vitaprint only needs a standard power outlet and USB/ethernet connection, making it ideal for work in laminar flow hoods.

Modular Tool Integration and Exchange

The open-source and modular platform allows simple integration and exchange of various tools, such as microscopes or lasers. In cooperation with international partners new tool integrations are being planned, such as multiphoton lithography and electrospinning.

Broad Range of Usable Materials

Integrated thermal control allows FDM printing in accordance to the specific melting point of polymers and hydrogels. In addition, the direct force translation from motor to piston allows a controlled extrusion, even with highly viscous materials, such as particulate pastes.

Advanced Printing Control

With the powerful and versatile PlanetCNC control software, g-code in a broad range of formats and from different slicing software, such as Cura or Slic3r, can be used easily. The newest version even allows integration of common programming commands, such as loops and condition statements.

USE CASES

PERFUSABLE VESSEL SYSTEMS IN HYDROGELS

Vascularization is currently a major challenge of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Using Vitaprint, the IRNAS team has been successful at fabricating free-form, perfusable channel systems into biocompatible hydrogels.

PRINTING GLUTEN

While a cheap waste product of the food industry, gluten is an intriguing material. Traditionally used as a glue, its mechanical properties can be adjusted from almost glass-stiff to rubbery, by modifying its chain length and water content. Using Vitaprint we were able to fabricate woodpile structures, but other shapes are also possible with this material.

PRINTING COMPLEX STRUCTURES

Anatomical structures, such as blood vessels or a nose were sliced and fabricated using gelatin-alginate copolymers with Vitaprint. Integrating them with the perfusable hydrogel method, these were shaped into the vessel system of an earlobe and even inserted into molds of simple organs, such as the meniscus.

THE BASIC SET-UP

The basic setup of Vitaprint includes:

  • Compact CNC system
  • Two extruders (heated, mechanical piston drive - no compressed air required)
  • 9 axis control electronics, USB or ethernet connectivity
  • Versatile control software with Windows/Linux support
  • 1 Week training course in Maribor, Slovenia (EU)
  • 16 hours of remote support

For full specifications check Github.

Workflow-diagram

CUSTOMIZATION AND PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT

We offer development and support for custom hardware solutions as well as material evaluation and fabrication protocol optimization, including:

  • Hardware modifications and integrations for specific applications
  • Development of 3D fabrication methods
  • Hardware prototypes manufacturing

We specialize in the development of custom 3D bioprinting solutions, based on the basic Vitaprint set-up, which we adapt according to your needs:

  • Adding extruders and upgrades (e.g. microscope, pressure sensor)
  • Adding/developing other tools (e.g. mill, laser diode, two-component printing, electrospinning)
  • Printing bed modifications (e.g. thermoregulation, custom printing container frames, autoleveling)
  • Your ideas

Want to take advantage of Vitaprint 3D bioprinting? Send us an informative inquiry with your requirements and we'll let you know about the possibilities.

Send inquiry

Contact us

Institute IRNAS Rače, Valvasorjeva 42, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Boštjan Vihar - bostjan@irnas.eu

PARTNERS

Institute IRNAS is supported by:

The Shuttleworth Foundation