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In this study, we present a technique for generation of hydrogel microdroplets as bioink for droplet deposition of tissues and organs. We also characterized the size and dispersion of the microdroplets. For this purpose, we designed a flow-focusing droplet generator chip in which uncured hydrogel flowing through a 120 µm wide channel was pinched at two sides of the stream of oil flowing along 300 µm wide channels. The chip was fabricated by ultrasonically embossing the features on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plate. We used polyethylene (glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) as the hydrogel and silicone oil as the pinching fluid. PEGDA was preferred since it provides an inherently inert matrix for cell growth. Before dispensing the liquids into the chip, PEGDA was mixed with photoinitiator (Irgacure 2959) to make PEGDA curable under UV exposure. The results showed that PEGDA droplets of 7419 µm diameter could be generated with average dispersion of 42762 µm between two successive droplets at a rate of about 600 Hz. After generating, droplets were cured in the chip by exposing under UV light for 1 minute. We have shown that single cells could be encapsulated in hydrogel microdroplets.

International Congress on 3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing) Technologies and Digital Industry
3D-PTC2019

Ender Yıldırım Ferah Sucularlı M. A. Sahir Arıkan