Challenges in High Resolution Inkjet Printing

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Engineering and Physical Sciences

Abstract

Inkjet printing is a technology that is familiar to anyone who has a personal computer at home as a convenient way of printing text and photographic images. In addition to this application, inkjet printing is a versatile manufacturing tool with a range of applications ranging from the industrial printing of barcodes and security marking to low cost printed electronics, solar cells and biosensors. It is also a long established method for 3D printing of polymers and ceramics. Inkjet printing is a digital technology, enabling designs and structures to be fabricated directly from files stored on a computer without the need to produce intermediate moulds, tools or screens. Thus a great attraction of using inkjet printing in these newer manufacturing applications is its potential to dramatically reduce lead times from concept to manufacture. This proposal is to provide a central facility to enable research in all of these applications for inkjet printing and in particular to enable us to translate this research from the laboratory to applications in industry and medicine that will be of direct benefit to the UK.

The suite of inkjet printers will allow a number of projects to be carried out including:
Printing functional materials and structures on textiles to allow smart clothing that could monitor the health of an individual.
Printing radio frequency identification devices (RFID) "invisible bar codes" on products to improve security and allow automatic checkout in stores.
Improve our fundamental understanding of the science of how inkjet drops are formed and how they interact with surfaces after printing.
Develop new inks that allow the printing of new materials e.g. graphene.
Enable the 3D printing of structures that can be implanted into the body to enable the healing and regeneration of tissues.

Planned Impact

The project is closely aligned to EPSRC and TSB strategy and is consistent with the aims stated in the EPSRC and TSB Partnership in High Value Manufacturing.

The project will provide inkjet printing equipment for the proposed National Centre for Digital Fabrication, these will will be made available to the UK academic research base as a resource for the translation of inkjet research to a commercial manufacturing platform. This will benefit both the UK academic and industrial base by providing an improved route to market and thus enabling an improved pathway to impact for researchers other than the CIs and their immediate collaborators. The facility will be of immediate benefit to our collaborators in the Centre for Innovative Manufacture in Large Area Electronics (EP/K03099X/1) and will assist in providing a facility with a larger printed footprint allowing work at a higher TRL for translational work..

The UK has a strong industrial cluster in inkjet printing technology as well as a large number of academic users in the printed electronic and 3D printing fields. The proposed equipment will allow a stronger interaction between the UK industry and academic sectors in this important area of advanced manufacturing.

An important piece of equipment is the Bioprinter. This will enable state of the art work in the area of biofabrication with applications in rergenerative medicine and tissue engineering. This will have longer term societal impact through developing new methods of treating disease and organ repair.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description 1) We have developed methods for printing components of human tissue that may lead to further work developing the organ-on-a-chip for toxicity testing.
2) Working with others we have developed protocols for printing large area electronic structures such as aerials for applications in the internet of things.
3) We now provide a facility for inkjet printing functional and structural materials that is available for users within the digital printing community in UK Universities and UK Industry.
4) we have further refined methods of identifying suitable fluids for inkjet printing
Exploitation Route Our equipment has already been used by UK Industrial SMEs to provide trial facilities for inkjet printing solar cells. It has resulted in directly funded research projects and Ph.D. studentships from an industrial partner. The equipment is now housed within the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials, increasing its visibility and availability to external users.
Sectors Aerospace

Defence and Marine

Chemicals

Creative Economy

Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software)

Electronics

Energy

Healthcare

Manufacturing

including Industrial Biotechology

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

URL http://www.eps.manchester.ac.uk/our-research/research-facilities/digital-fabrication/
 
Description The equipment funded by the grant has been used by UK industry to trial the fabrication of large area photovoltaic manufacture using novel device geometries. This information was used by the collaborator to seek further funding for their development. A patent has been filed based on results obtained using the equipment. The equipment has been used with UK industry to develop extensions in the area of laboratory equipment.
First Year Of Impact 2018
Sector Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Economic

 
Description 3D Printed Silicone Soft Robotic "4D" Phantoms for use in MRI Guided Radiotherapy
Amount £150,000 (GBP)
Funding ID ID2021/100049 
Organisation Rosetrees Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2022 
End 02/2025
 
Description Additive Manufacturing
Amount £76,614 (GBP)
Funding ID CDE36973 
Organisation Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 
Department Centre for Defence Enterprise
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2015 
End 06/2015
 
Description BBSRC Industrial CASE
Amount £127,776 (GBP)
Funding ID BB/P504348/1 
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2017 
End 10/2020
 
Description Collaborative Research
Amount £120,000 (GBP)
Organisation Merck 
Department Merck R&D UK
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2016 
End 04/2017
 
Description Digital printing antimicrobial/antibiofilm materials onto moisture sensitive advanced woundcare substrates
Amount £30,000 (GBP)
Funding ID IAA 
Organisation University of Manchester 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2021 
End 02/2022
 
Description Engineering Grand Challenge
Amount £4,056,140 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/N010345/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2015 
End 12/2020
 
Description Imaging of Biological Printing for High Throughput Applications
Amount £30,000 (GBP)
Funding ID IAA277 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2020 
End 08/2021
 
Description Impact Accelerator Account
Amount £27,077 (GBP)
Funding ID IAA 054 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2014 
End 02/2015
 
Description University of Manchester Charitable Donation
Amount £2,500 (GBP)
Organisation University of Manchester 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2017 
End 08/2017
 
Description BBSRC Industrial CASE studentship: Glaxo Smith Klein 
Organisation GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Department GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution GSK are interested in developing in vitro models of organs for a drug discovery purposes. We have developed a novel concept and GSK are interested in assessing its applicability.
Collaborator Contribution Support for a studentship
Impact Too early in project for outputs
Start Year 2017
 
Description Commonwealth Split Site Studentship 
Organisation Indian Institute of Science Bangalore
Country India 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Joint Supervision of a research student, two 6 month visitits of research student to manchester
Collaborator Contribution Provision of student support for 12 momths
Impact Papers submitted and currently under review. Facilities access Diamond Synchrotron
Start Year 2017
 
Description Digital printing antimicrobial/antibiofilm materials onto moisture sensitive advanced woundcare substrates 
Organisation 5D Health Protection Group Ltd
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Developed an inkjet delivery mechanism to apply antimicrobial compounds to wound dressings.
Collaborator Contribution Tested the anti-microbial efficacy of the printed medical devices
Impact In progress
Start Year 2022
 
Description GBvi 
Organisation GBVi
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Trials using graphene inks for printing optical components
Collaborator Contribution Testing of product for applications
Impact Preliminary trials possibly leading to longer term project
Start Year 2019
 
Description Imaging of Biological Printing for High Throughput Applications (IAA Proof of Concept Award with FFEI Ltd.) 
Organisation FFEI
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The University of Manchester is a pioneer in the field of cell printing and has been working in the field for over 10 years with EPSRC funding supporting Ph.D. studentships, A Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship(Dr. R.E. Saunders), EPSRC grant support with the most recent to Derby being EP/L012022/1 and BBSRC support e.g. BB/N01250X/1. It has also featured in the Doctoral Training Programme in Regenerative Medicine and is an important component of the Henry Royce Institute Biomaterials Theme EP/P025021/1 and EP/R00661X/1. Manchester has considerable experience in printing a range of cells and exploring the physical science aspects of the process, e.g. influence of shear flow and acoustic effects on cell viability, and machine and process development to optimise viability. The integration of cell printing with high throughput analysis remains unexplored commercially. The proposed project will exploit the several years of experience accumulated in Manchester on successful cell deposition, placement, patterning for applications in tissue engineering, medical engineering and organ-on-a-chip technology. This will provide basic understanding for the integration of a bioprinter with the imaging technology skills of the industrial partner.
Collaborator Contribution FFEI has significant, existing commercial expertise in digital scanning for whole-slide imaging in pathology and manufacturing of digital inkjet engines. This project will investigate, for the first time, combining high throughput cell printing (Manchester) and high-throughput scanning analysis techniques (FFEI) for application to drug discovery, tissue engineering and medical diagnostics.High-throughput printing of cells and biological material into discrete formations, followed by highly variable over-printing and simultaneous digital analysis, offers an all-in-one solution that is currentlynot available. This presents opportunity for FFEI to integrate and manufacture project outputs to approach new markets. The IAA proof of concept data produced will lead to a future novel and commercially viable life science device that can be developed further by FFEI.
Impact Early stages of collaboration - no outputs yet
Start Year 2020
 
Description Merck Case Award 
Organisation Merck
Department Merck R&D UK
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Provide methods for ink development using 2D materials. Develop strategies for solvent and particle selection.
Collaborator Contribution Cash contribution for research and student support. Supply of materials. Supply of Staff time.
Impact None as yet
Start Year 2016
 
Title A MULTILAYER SHEET OF CELLS 
Description A multilayer sheet of cells, comprising a layer of endothelial cells, and a layer of podocytes is disclosed. 
IP Reference WO2016207654 
Protection Patent application published
Year Protection Granted 2016
Licensed Commercial In Confidence
Impact Further collaboratiuon with industry
 
Description Interview by BBC World Service (Arabic) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Laboratory visit and description of research into Bioprinting at the University of Manchester. Equipment funded by the award was discussed.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentationto Inustrial Trade Asociation members (Stoke-on-Trent) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Presentation at industry workshop in Stoke-on-Trent by the British Ceramic Confederation - 3D Printing for Ceramics (Trade Association)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Radio Interview 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Radio broadcast resulted in further press interest

Interview with journalist from Financial Times
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pn3t4
 
Description SciBar Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Invited to give talk on 3D printing to a general audience at a SciBar event. Questions and discussions aftewrwards. Generated interest to be invited to a similar event held by another SciBar
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Stand at Blue Dot Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Samples being taken from the lab to blue dot.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018
 
Description Stand at Community Open Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stand at the community festival including leapfrog printer, doodle pen Activity and hands on samples.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018
 
Description Stand at Henry Royce Advanced Materials Summer School 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 3d printing Workshop. Excellent Feedback
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Stand at Science Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Stand at Blue Dot Science and Music Festival. 3D printing demonstration, Hands on demonstration printing conductors, Audience mainly children and young adults, team interacted and fielded questions in 3D printing and printed electronics.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Stand at Science Festival (Blue Dot festival, July 2019) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Activity was a stand at science festival showing how materials fabrication methods could be used to make biological constructs. Introduced concept of an organ on a chip. Some hands on demonstrations for participants. Audience general public with focus on High school Age children.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Talk at Popular Science Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Workshop sparked questions about 3D printing in the future

After talk initiated discussions as to how to raise profile of additive manud=facturing
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Visit from Altrincham Grammar School for Boys 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact 3D printing Workshop
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017