A Radiopaque Nanoparticle-Based Ink Using PolyJet 3D Printing for Medical Applications

Alice Shannon, Aine O'Connell, Aidan O'Sullivan, Michael Byrne, Seamus Clifford, Kevin J. O'Sullivan, Leonard O'Sullivan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a 3D printable radiopaque ink and successfully print a finished artifact. Radiopaque 3D printing would be hugely beneficial to improve the visibility of medical devices and implants, as well as allowing more realistic phantoms and calibration aids to be produced. Most 3D printing technologies are polymer based. Polymers are naturally radiolucent, allowing X-rays to pass through, showing up as faint dark gray regions on X-ray detectors, as for soft tissues. During this study, a 3D printable ultraviolet (UV) curable resin containing zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles was developed. 5 wt.% ZrO2 was dispersed in a base resin using a high-shear mixer. Particles remained in suspension for 6-8 h at room temperature, allowing time for 3D printing. A model of a hand including radiopaque bones and a test block demonstrating a range of internal radiopaque features were successfully 3D printed. Radiopacity was demonstrated in the 3D-printed models, and there was good dispersion of ZrO2 within the resin matrix. The impregnated resin remained UV curable and viscosity was not compromised. In this study, 3D-printed radiopaque features demonstrated clear radiopacity under X-ray and microcomputed tomography imaging.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)259-268
Number of pages10
Journal3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
Volume7
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

Keywords

  • 3D printing
  • additive manufacturing
  • medical devices
  • nanoparticles
  • radiopacity
  • zirconium oxide

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