Automate the process of cell growing

Abstract

Scaffold creation is the first step of new skin creation, which is used in skin grafting to treat burn wound injuries. As this process is a menial task, time and manpower can be saved using automation, allowing more resources to be allocated to other parts of the skin grafting or treatment process. The purpose of this Final Year Project (FYP) is to design and create a machine which automates the process of scaffold creation.

Existing method of scaffold preparation as well as existing automation devices were researched, followed by function identification of machine and user needs. Components used to perform each functions were compared, then selected.

The design was conceptualised using Autodesk Inventor, and parts were fabricated through 3D printing and laser cutting. Assembly was completed with the aid of commercial-off-the-shelf parts. A firmware was written using C++ to allow the user to interact with the machine and perform the intended operations.

A functional prototype was achieved, and tests were conducted using agar. Experiments were ran to determine the ideal temperature for agar to best emulate Fibrin. Afterwards, multiple iterations of preliminary testing were done to observe the effects of different machine perimeters in producing the scaffold sheet. The scaffold sheet produced in these tests were not whole, and possible reasons for this defect were discussed.

Finally, a syringe of larger volume was substituted and another round of testing was conducted, which yielded the most optimal result in producing a homogenous scaffold sheet.

Lastly, the limitations and future works are discussed.