Figure 10.12
 
 
 
211
Bacterial Nanocellulose Biomaterials with Controlled Architecture
Bacteria
medium
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f )
(b)
(a)
Meniscus
mold
PDMS part
Gasket
Electrode
Syringe pump
Step motor
(g)
Figure 10.12
(See color insert.).Microweaver.bioreactor.for.biofabrication.of.meniscus.implant.and.a.prototype.of.a.human.BNC.meniscus.implant..Source:.BC.Genesis.
pump. that. delivers. the. amount. required. to. fill. the. volume. created. as. the.
. cylinder.lifts..The.AC.electric.field.is.applied.to.electrodes.that.are.set.into.
the.medium.through.holes.in.opposing.spokes.of.the.gasket..Bacteria.move.
forward. and. backward,. producing. dense. cellulose. fibers. that. are. circumferentially. oriented.. The. process. repeats. until. the. coil. moves. up. and. the.
. meniscus.form.is.filled.with.BNC.
The.electromagnetic.field.is.powered.using.a.computer.with.a.soundcard.
oscilloscope. and. a. universal. serial. bus. (USB). function. generator.. The. frequency,. amplitude,. and. trigger. functions. of. the. oscilloscope. are. computer.
controlled..Figure 10.12g.shows.the.prototype.of.a.human.meniscus.
We.have.demonstrated.that.this.can.be.attained.by.controlling.the.movement.of.G. xylinus.at.the.nanoscale.by.electric.fields.to.create.custom.cellulose.
networks.. To. the. best. of. our. knowledge,. this. study. demonstrates. the. first.
direct.control.over.a.bottom-up.biofabrication.process.in.three.dimensions..
By.carefully.controlling.the.electrokinetic.forces,.we.can.direct.the.bacteria.