TY - GEN A1 - Jurischka, Christoph A1 - Dinter, Franziska A1 - Efimova, Anastasia A1 - Weiss, Romano A1 - Schiebel, Juliane A1 - Schulz, Christian A1 - Fayziev, Bekzodjon A1 - Schierack, Peter A1 - Fischer, Thomas A1 - Rödiger, Stefan T1 - An explorative study of polymers for 3D printing of bioanalytical test systems T2 - Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation N2 - Background: The 3D printing is relevant as a manufacturing technology of functional models for forensic, pharmaceutical and bioanalytical applications such as drug delivery systems, sample preparation and point-of-care tests. Objective: Melting behavior and autofluorescence of materials are decisive for optimal printing and applicability of the product which are influenced by varying unknown additives. Methods: We have produced devices for bioanalytical applications from commercially available thermoplastic polymers using a melt-layer process. We characterized them by differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy and functional assays (DNA capture assay, model for cell adhesion, bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation test). Results: From 14 tested colored, transparent and black materials we found only deep black acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and some black polylactic acid (PLA) useable for fluorescence-based assays, with low autofluorescence only in the short-wave range of 300-400 nm. PLA was suitable for standard bioanalytical purposes due to a glass transition temperature of approximately 60°C, resistance to common laboratory chemicals and easy print processing. For temperature-critical methods, such as hybridization reactions up to 90°C, ABS was better suited. Conclusions: Autofluorescence was not a disadvantage per se but can also be used as a reference signal in assays. The rapid development of individual protocols for sample processing and analysis required the availability of a material with consistent quality over time. For fluorescence-based assays, the use of commercial standard materials did not seem to meet this requirement. KW - Thermal analysis KW - 3D Printing Y1 - 2020 UR - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31929149/ U6 - https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-190713 SN - 1875-8622 VL - 75 IS - 1 SP - 57 EP - 84 ER -