Purpose

This study aims to describe the preparation of antimicrobial material usable in 3D printing of medical devices. Despite the wealth of technological progress at the time of the crisis caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus: Virus that causes current Pandemic situation (COVID-19), the global population had long been exposed beforehand to an acute absence of essential medical devices. As a response, a new type of composite materials intended for rapid prototyping, based on layered silicate saponite (Sap), antimicrobial dye phloxine B (PhB) and thermoplastics, has been recently developed.

Design/methodology/approach

Sap was modified with a cationic surfactant and subsequently functionalized with PhB. The hybrid material in powder form was then grounded with polyethylene terephthalate-glycol (PETG) or polylactic acid (PLA) in a precisely defined weight ratio and extruded into printing filaments. The stability and level of cytotoxicity of these materials in various physiological environments simulating the human body have been studied. The applicability of these materials in bacteria and a yeast-infected environment was evaluated.

Findings

Ideal content of the hybrid material, with respect to thermoplastic, was 15 weight %. Optimal printing temperature and speed, with respect to maintaining antimicrobial activity of the prepared materials, were T = 215°C at 50 mm/s for PETG/SapPhB and T = 230°C at 40 mm/s for PLA/SapPhB. 3 D-printed air filters made of these materials could keep inner air flow at 63.5% and 76.8% of the original value for the PLA/SapPhB and PETG/SapPhB, respectively, whereas the same components made without PhB had a 100% reduction of airflow.

Practical implications

The designed materials can be used for rapid prototyping of medical devices.

Originality/value

The new materials have been immediately used in the construction of an emergency lung ventilator, Q-vent, which has been used in different countries during the COVID-19 crisis.

中文翻译：

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专为 COVID-19 危机期间使用的医疗设备的 3D 打印而设计的新型抗菌材料

目的

本研究旨在描述可用于医疗器械 3D 打印的抗菌材料的制备。尽管在由 SARS-CoV-2 病毒引起的危机期间取得了大量的技术进步：导致当前大流行病的病毒 (COVID-19)，但全球人口长期以来一直暴露于基本医疗设备严重缺乏的情况。作为回应，最近开发了一种基于层状硅酸盐皂石 (Sap)、抗菌染料间苯二酚 B (PhB) 和热塑性塑料的新型复合材料，用于快速成型。

设计/方法/方法

树液用阳离子表面活性剂改性，随后用 PhB 官能化。然后将粉末形式的混合材料与聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯 (PETG) 或聚乳酸 (PLA) 以精确定义的重量比研磨，并挤出成印刷丝。已经研究了这些材料在模拟人体的各种生理环境中的稳定性和细胞毒性水平。评估了这些材料在细菌和酵母感染环境中的适用性。

发现

相对于热塑性塑料，混合材料的理想含量为 15 重量％。就保持所制备材料的抗菌活性而言，最佳印刷温度和速度 是 PETG/SapPhB 在 50 mm/s 下的T = 215°C 和 PLA/SapPhB 在 40 mm/s 下的T = 230°C。由这些材料制成的 3 D 打印空气过滤器可以将 PLA/SapPhB 和 PETG/SapPhB 的内部空气流量分别保持在原始值的 63.5% 和 76.8%，而不含 PhB 的相同组件则减少了 100%空气流动。

实际影响

设计的材料可用于医疗器械的快速原型制作。

原创性/价值

新材料已立即用于建造紧急肺呼吸机 Q-vent，该呼吸机在 COVID-19 危机期间已在不同国家使用。