Modeling of Flow Rate, Pore Size, and Porosity for the Dispensing-Based Tissue Scaffolds Fabrication

Dispensing technique is one of the promising solid freeform (SFF) methods to fabricate scaffolds with controllable pore sizes and porosities. In this paper, a model to represent the dispensing-based SFF fabrication process is developed. Specifically, the mechanical properties of the scaffold material and its influence on the fabrication process are examined; the flow rate of the scaffold material dispensed and the pore size and porosity of the scaffold fabricated in the process are represented. In order to generate scaffold strands without either tensile or compressive stress, the optimal moving speed of the dispensing head is determined from the flow rate of the scaffold material dispensed. Experiments were also carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the model developed.