KR20220056108A - Method and system for fabrication of high-resolution structure using size-tunable hydrogels - Google Patents

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide a method for producing a high-resolution structure using a size-adjustable hydrogel. According to the various embodiments, it is possible to a high-resolution structure by a method comprising: a step of generating a basic structure; a step of generating a temporary structure consisting of a hydrogel by applying a hydrogel to the basic structure; a step of contracting the temporary structure by contracting the hydrogel; and a step of generating a final structure using the contracted temporary structure or the basic structure.

Description

Method and system for manufacturing a high-resolution structure using a size-adjustable hydrogel

Various embodiments relate to a method and system for fabricating a high-resolution structure using a size-adjustable hydrogel.

3D printing technology is an additive manufacturing (AM) method that uses a computer-aided design (CAD) program to build three-dimensionally designed model drawings by stacking them layer by layer. After the first development of the stereolithography (SLA), a curing-based construction method that laminates a structure using layer-by-layer curing through laser or UV exposure to photocurable resin, melts a thermoplastic material and sprays it through a nozzle to laminate it in 3D Several processes have been continuously developed, including the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) method of fabricating structures. These 3D printing techniques are capable of producing various and complex structures that are difficult to implement on a conventional two-dimensional plane, and have the characteristics of being able to utilize various materials such as polymer compounds, metals, and ceramics.

3D printing technology began to be commercialized in earnest after the US Charles Hull implemented the 3D printing system for the first time in 1984 and applied for a patent related to the stereolithography process. As this decline and accessibility increase, it has attracted more and more attention. It goes beyond the existing simple model or prototype (rapid prototyping; RP) and is being used in various industries. Due to the diversity of materials and the improvement of technology, application to new fields is spreading, and various industrial fields are actively promoting the introduction of 3D printing technology for reasons such as minimization of material loss, customized production, and ease and precision of design. 3D additive manufacturing is not only used in manufacturing parts or construction industries, but also in biotechnology industries such as biotechnology and medical science that require a special shape for each patient.

As such, 3D printing is attracting attention as a promising future technology that has the potential to be used in various fields, and its utilization is also greatly increasing. The resolution of laminated parts using 3D printing depends mainly on the 3D printing technique used and the equipment performance of the 3D printer. In order for the 3D printing technique to be used in more diverse fields, it is an important issue how precisely the designed model drawings can be expressed and produced. As the cost related to 3D printing has decreased compared to the past, the scope of application is gradually expanding not only in industrial fields where 3D printing techniques were mainly used, but also in homes, schools, and laboratories. 3D printing resolution high enough to replace existing products is emerging as an essential element for personalized production that can be used in daily life based on increased accessibility.

In order for 3D printing technology to have higher utility in various fields as a customized manufacturing technique, it is necessary to develop in a direction that can replace existing products through variety of materials and high-resolution production. Accordingly, various techniques have been developed, starting with the SLA technique, the first 3D printing technique, and many studies are being conducted to implement 3D printing on various materials with higher resolution.

Several 3D printing techniques each have a different resolution ranging from tens to hundreds of microns or more. The SLA technique with a resolution of several tens of microns shows the highest resolution, and the FDM technique, which is the most used method for personal 3D printers, shows a relatively low trend with a resolution of several hundred microns. However, in general, as the 3D printing technique has a high resolution, it has several limitations, including the cost aspect. For example, in the case of the SLA technique, which has the highest resolution of several tens of microns, the cost of equipment and materials used is high, and the printing speed is slow. On the other hand, the most common FDM technique has a relatively low cost and fast printing speed, but has a relatively low resolution. Other 3D printing techniques such as SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) and IP (Inkjet Printing) have a similar trend.

Various embodiments are to overcome the limitations in terms of resolution and cost common to various arbitrary structure fabrication techniques including 3D printing techniques, and propose a high-resolution structure fabrication technique using a size-adjustable hydrogel.

The high-resolution structure manufacturing method according to various embodiments includes the steps of creating a basic structure, applying a hydrogel to the basic structure, creating a temporary structure made of the hydrogel, shrinking the hydrogel, the Contracting the temporary structure, and using the temporary structure or the basic structure, it may include the step of generating a final structure.

A high-resolution structure manufacturing system according to various embodiments, a basic structure generating unit configured to generate a basic structure, by applying a hydrogel to the basic structure, a temporary structure configured to generate a temporary structure made of the hydrogel Part, by contracting the hydrogel, a temporary structure contraction unit configured to contract the temporary structure, and a final structure generation unit configured to generate a final structure using the temporary structure or the basic structure .

In various embodiments, a high-resolution structure may be manufactured using a size-adjustable hydrogel. Specifically, by repeatedly shrinking the hydrogel while replacing the basic structure produced through 3D printing with the hydrogel, a final structure with a high resolution, that is, a reduced size, can be obtained. As such, various embodiments are compatible with the existing 3D printing technique and can be implemented without additional equipment through a hydrogel that can be synthesized at a low cost, so it can be advantageous in terms of cost and time. In addition, according to various embodiments, the final structure may be made of various materials such as elastomers, resins, plastics, and hydrogels. Accordingly, various embodiments may be utilized to easily manufacture a product suitable for individual needs, or to easily manufacture a high-precision miniaturized device having various functions such as a lab-on-a-chip and a sensor.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system for manufacturing a high-resolution structure according to various embodiments.
2 is a view for explaining a scenario for manufacturing a high-resolution structure according to the first embodiment.
3 is a view for explaining a scenario for manufacturing a high-resolution structure according to the second embodiment.
4 is a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a high-resolution structure according to various embodiments.
5 to 11 are diagrams for explaining application of various embodiments.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present document will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Various embodiments propose a high-resolution structure manufacturing technology using a size-controllable hydrogel. Various embodiments have the following three characteristics. The first characteristic is that it is possible to manufacture a high-resolution structure that exceeds the resolution of the 3D printer by using various 3D printers. The second feature is that the present technology can be implemented without additional equipment through a hydrogel that can be synthesized at a low cost. The third feature is that the final structure can be made of various materials such as plastic, polydimethysiloxane (PDMS), and hydrogel.

Various embodiments show a difference from the existing technology research direction for improving resolution by introducing a new material approach rather than improving the performance of the 3D printer itself. In general, the precision of a structure manufactured by a 3D printer is mainly determined by the 3D printing technique used and the performance of the equipment, and an expensive high-performance 3D printer is required to obtain a high-resolution structure. In addition, significant cost and time are consumed to develop equipment that exceeds the existing output limit. Various embodiments are a technology that can overcome the cost and time limitations by introducing a material called a contractible hydrogel in the intermediate process, unlike the development direction of the existing 3D printing.

Various embodiments have the feature of being compatible with several 3D printers used independently, and have an advantage in terms of cost in that they use a hydrogel that can be synthesized at a low cost without additional equipment. Various embodiments can be applied to a commonly available low-resolution 3D printer to overcome the resolution limit, and by repeatedly performing the entire process, a structure having a resolution several times higher than that of the original output can be manufactured.

Various embodiments are different from the existing 3D printing technology in that each 3D printing technique can manufacture a structure using various materials such as an elastomer, resin, plastic, hydrogel, etc. in addition to the existing limited printing materials. In general, 3D printing manufacturing techniques have compatible materials for each technique. In the case of the FDM technique, only a thermoplastic material can be used because the structure is produced through nozzle spraying after melting the printing material at a high temperature. In various embodiments, in addition to elastomers such as PDMS and ecoflex, the final structure can be manufactured from various materials that can be cured, such as resin, plastic, and hydrogel, so it is a technology that can be used more widely than the existing 3D printing technique.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system 100 for fabricating high-resolution structures in accordance with various embodiments. 2 is a view for explaining a scenario for manufacturing a high-resolution structure according to the first embodiment. 3 is a view for explaining a scenario for manufacturing a high-resolution structure according to the second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the system 100 may use a contractible hydrogel to manufacture high-resolution final structures 250 and 350 from the basic structures 210 and 310 . At this time, the system 100 repeatedly reduces the basic structures 210 and 310 using hydrogel, and through this, the final structures 250 and 350 of a higher resolution, that is, a more reduced size can be manufactured. can Specifically, the system 100 may include a basic structure generation unit 110 , a temporary structure generation unit 120 , a temporary structure contraction unit 130 , a repetition processing unit 140 , or a final structure generation unit 150 . there is. In some embodiments, at least one of the components of the system 100 may be omitted, and at least one other component may be added. In some embodiments, at least any two of the components of system 100 may be integrated into one.

In the basic structure generating unit 110 , the basic structure 210 may be generated. Here, in the basic structure generating unit 110, using a basic material, the basic structure (210, 310) may be generated. In addition, the basic structure generating unit 110 may generate the basic structures 210 and 310 through a technology capable of creating arbitrary two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures, such as all patterning, printing, and molding techniques, including 3D printing. To this end, the basic structure generating unit 110 may include a 3D printer (P).

In the temporary structure generating unit 120 , by applying the hydrogel to the basic structures 210 and 310 , the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be generated. Through this, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be made of hydrogel. In this case, the hydrogel may have a contractible property. In addition, the hydrogel is gelled in a liquid state having flowability, and is formed into the temporary structures 220 and 320 having a shape, and the temporary structures 220 and 320 can maintain their shape. For example, the hydrogels 220 and 320 may be stretchable hydrogels, and thus, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may have elasticity and flexibility. In addition, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be provided with channels corresponding to the basic structures 210 and 310 .

According to the first embodiment, in the basic structure generating unit 110 , as shown in FIG. 2 , the basic structure 210 may have a predetermined pattern 211 . For example, a pattern 211 may be provided on one surface of the basic structure 210 . In this case, in the temporary structure generating unit 120 , as shown in FIG. 2 , by applying the hydrogel on the pattern 211 of the basic structure 210 , the temporary structure 220 may be generated. In addition, by separating the temporary structure 220 on the pattern 211 , the temporary structure 220 may be obtained. Here, as the temporary structure 220 has elasticity and flexibility, damage to the temporary structure 220 may be prevented when the temporary structure 220 is separated on the pattern 211 . Through this, the temporary structure 220, a recess (recess) 221 corresponding to the pattern 211 of the basic structure 210 on one surface may be provided as a channel.

According to the second embodiment, in the basic structure generating unit 110 , as shown in FIG. 3 , the basic structure 310 may be implemented in a predetermined pattern 311 . In this case, in the temporary structure generating unit 120 , as shown in FIG. 3 , by applying the hydrogel to surround the basic structure 310 , the temporary structure 320 may be generated. Here, the hydrogel may be removed through physical force or chemical treatment. For example, hydrogels that melt under certain chemical conditions (eg, pH, temperature, ion concentration, catalytic treatment, chemical reaction, etc.) can be used. Alternatively, after using a hydrogel that can swell or deform easily under these chemical conditions, the hydrogel can be physically removed. And, by removing the basic structure 310 from the inside of the temporary structure 320, the temporary structure 320 can be obtained. Here, the basic structure 310 may be removed through physical force or chemical treatment. To this end, the basic material of the basic structure 310 may be a material that can be melted under a predetermined condition, such as PLA (Poly Lactic Acid), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), and the like. For example, by melting the basic material using an organic solvent such as chloroform, dichloromethane, etc., without affecting the shape or size of the temporary structure 320, the basic structure 310 may be removed. Alternatively, it can be physically removed after softening by treating with an organic solvent as described above. Alternatively, it can be physically removed after being melted or softened under certain chemical conditions (eg, pH, temperature, ionic concentration, catalytic treatment, chemical reaction, etc.). Through this, in the temporary structure 320, a cavity 321 corresponding to the pattern 311 of the basic structure 310 therein may be provided as a channel.

In the temporary structure contracting unit 130 , the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be contracted. At this time, by drying the hydrogel in the temporary structure contraction unit 130 , the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be contracted. When the hydrogel is dried, the moisture contained in the hydrogel is evaporated, and thus, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be contracted. At this time, as the temporary structures 220 and 320 are contracted, channels and cavities of the temporary structures 220 and 320 may also be contracted. For example, for isotropic shrinkage, the hydrogel can be dried slowly while gradually increasing the temperature in a humid environment. Through this, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be contracted in the longitudinal direction by about 40% to about 50% compared to before the shrinkage. Alternatively, hydrogels that shrink under specific chemical conditions may be used. For example, hydrogels that shrink at high or low temperatures, contract at high or low pH, high ion concentrations or low ion concentrations, or shrink after chemical reaction may be used.

If necessary, in the iterative processing unit 140 , using the temporary structures 220 and 320 , the basic structures 210 and 310 may be re-generated. Through this, in the iterative processing unit 140, the reduced size of the basic structures 210 and 310 may be generated. For example, at the time of the first repetition, that is, when the number of repetitions is 1, for the size of the first generated basic structures 210 and 310, the basic structures 210 and 310 of the size reduced to 1/2 will be generated. can In addition, the basic structures 210 and 310 generated by the iterative processing unit 140 may be provided to the temporary structure generating unit 120 . Accordingly, through repetition of the temporary structure generating unit 120 and the temporary structure contracting unit 130 , the temporary structures 220 and 320 having a smaller size may be obtained. That is, iteratively, the temporary structures 220 and 320 of reduced size may be generated and contracted. For example, as the number of repetitions is added 2 times and 3 times, the basic structures 210 and 310 of the size reduced to 1/4 and 1/8 of the size of the first generated basic structures 210 and 310 are generated. will be

According to the first embodiment, in the iterative processing unit 140 , as shown in FIG. 2 , a basic material is applied to the surface of the temporary structure 220 to generate the basic structure 210 . Here, the basic material may be a curable material. For example, the basic material may be applied to the surface of the temporary structure 220 and then cured to form the basic structure 210 . And, by separating the temporary structure 220 from the basic structure 210, the basic structure 210 can be obtained. At this time, in the temporary structure contracting unit 130 , as the temporary structure 220 is contracted, the recess 221 of the temporary structure 220 is also contracted, and in the repeat processing unit 140 , the basic structure 210 is It may have a pattern 211 corresponding to the recess 221 of the temporary structure 220 . Also, the basic structure 210 generated by the iterative processing unit 140 may be provided to the temporary structure generating unit 120 .

According to the second embodiment, in the iterative processing unit 140 , as shown in FIG. 3 , the basic material is filled in the temporary structure 320 to generate the basic structure 310 . Here, the basic material may have any shape and may be a curable material. For example, the basic material may be applied to the inside of the temporary structure 320 and then cured to form the basic structure 310 . And, by removing the temporary structure 320 from the outside of the basic structure 310, the basic structure 310 can be obtained. As an example, the hardened basic material is cut into small pieces to form a powder, put into the cavity 321 inside the temporary structure 320, and the temperature is raised to soften or melt the basic material to make the inside of the cavity 321 uniform. After filling, the temperature can be lowered to harden the basic material. As another example, the cured basic material may be dissolved in a solvent and put into the cavity 321 , and the cured basic structure 310 may be formed by evaporating the solvent. Here, by melting the temporary structure 320 , the temporary structure 320 may be removed. For example, hydrogels can be removed by applying physical force or by melting under certain chemical conditions (eg, pH, temperature, ionic concentration, catalytic treatment, chemical reaction, etc.). In addition, after using a hydrogel that can be expanded or easily deformed under these chemical conditions, the temporary structure 320 is removed without affecting the shape or size of the basic structure 310 by physically removing the hydrogel. can At this time, in the temporary structure contraction unit 130 , as the temporary structure 320 is contracted, the cavity 321 of the temporary structure 320 is also contracted, and in the repeat processing unit 140 , the basic structure 310 is temporarily It may have a pattern 311 corresponding to the cavity 321 of the structure 320 . Also, the basic structure 310 generated by the iterative processing unit 140 may be provided to the temporary structure generating unit 120 .

In the final structure generating unit 150 , the final structures 250 and 350 may be generated using the temporary structures 220 and 320 or the basic structures 210 and 310 . Here, in the final structure generating unit 150, using the final material, final materials 250 and 350 may be generated. For example, the final material may include at least one of elastomers such as PDMS and Ecoflex, resins, plastics, metals, metal oxides, ceramics, polymers, or hydrogels. Through this, in the final structure generating unit 150, the reduced size of the final structures 250 and 350 may be generated. As an example, when not repeated by the iteration processing unit 140, the final structures 250 and 350 of the size reduced to 1/2 with respect to the size of the initially generated basic structures 210 and 310 may be generated. . As another example, as the number of repetitions is added once or twice by the iteration processing unit 140, the final structure ( 250, 350) may be generated. Here, the final structures 250 and 350 may be formed from the temporary structures 220 and 320 . In this case, the final structures 250 and 350 have a structure opposite to that of the initially formed basic structures 210 and 310 (reverse tone). Meanwhile, the final structures 250 and 350 may be formed from the basic structures 210 and 310 . In this case, the final structures 250 and 350 have the same structure while being small in size as the first formed basic structures 210 and 310 .

According to the first embodiment, in the final structure generating unit 150 , as shown in FIG. 2 , the final structure 250 may be generated by applying the final material to the surface of the temporary structure 220 . Here, the final material may be a curable material. For example, the final material may be applied to the surface of the temporary structure 220 and then cured to form the final structure 250 . And, by separating the temporary structure 220 from the final structure 250, the final structure 250 can be obtained. At this time, in the final structure generating unit 150 , as the temporary structure 220 is contracted, the recess 221 of the temporary structure 220 is also contracted, and in the final structure generating unit 150 , the final structure 250 is contracted. ) may have a pattern 251 corresponding to the recess 221 of the temporary structure 220 .

According to the second embodiment, in the final structure generating unit 150 , as shown in FIG. 3 , the final structure 350 may be generated by applying the final material to the inside of the temporary structure 320 . Here, the final material may be a curable material. For example, the final material may be applied to the interior of the temporary structure 320 and then cured to form the final structure 350 . And, by removing the temporary structure 320 from the outside of the final structure 350, the final structure 350 can be obtained. Here, by melting the temporary structure 320 , the temporary structure 320 may be removed. For example, hydrogels can be removed by applying physical force or by melting under certain chemical conditions (eg, pH, temperature, ionic concentration, catalytic treatment, chemical reaction, etc.). In addition, after using a hydrogel that can be expanded or easily deformed under these chemical conditions, the temporary structure 320 can be removed without affecting the shape or size of the final structure 350 by physically removing the hydrogel. can At this time, in the temporary structure contracting unit 130 , as the temporary structure 320 is contracted, the cavity 321 of the temporary structure 320 is also contracted, and in the final structure generating unit 150 , the final structure 350 . may have a pattern 351 corresponding to the cavity 321 of the temporary structure 320 .

4 is a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a high-resolution structure according to various embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 4 , high-resolution final structures 250 and 350 may be manufactured from the basic structures 210 and 310 using a contractible hydrogel. At this time, the basic structures 210 and 310 are repeatedly reduced by using the hydrogel, and through this, the final structures 250 and 350 of a higher resolution, that is, a more reduced size can be manufactured.

First, in step 410 , the basic structure 210 may be generated. Here, using a curable basic material, the basic structure (210, 310) can be created. And, all patterning, printing, molding techniques, including 3D printing, through a technique capable of making any two-dimensional and three-dimensional structure, the basic structure (210, 310) can be generated.

Next, in step 420, by applying the hydrogel to the basic structures (210, 310), the temporary structures (220, 320) can be generated. Through this, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be made of hydrogel. In this case, the hydrogel may have a contractible property. In addition, the hydrogel is gelled in a liquid state having flowability, and is formed into the temporary structures 220 and 320 having a shape, and the temporary structures 220 and 320 can maintain their shape. For example, the hydrogels 220 and 320 may be stretchable hydrogels, and thus, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may have elasticity and flexibility. In addition, a channel corresponding to the basic structures 210 and 310 , that is, a recess 221 or a cavity 321 may be provided.

According to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the basic structure 210 may have a predetermined pattern 211 . For example, a pattern 211 may be provided on one surface of the basic structure 210 . In this case, by applying the hydrogel on the pattern 211 of the basic structure 210, the temporary structure 220 may be generated. In addition, the temporary structure 220 may be separated on the pattern 211 to obtain the temporary structure 220 . Here, as the temporary structure 220 has elasticity and flexibility, damage to the temporary structure 220 may be prevented when the temporary structure 220 is separated on the pattern 211 . Through this, the temporary structure 220, a recess 221 corresponding to the pattern 211 of the basic structure 210 on one surface may be provided as a channel.

According to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the basic structure 310 may be implemented in a predetermined pattern 311 . In this case, by applying the hydrogel to surround the basic structure 310, the temporary structure 320 may be created. Here, the hydrogel may be removed through physical force or chemical treatment. For example, hydrogels that melt under specific chemical conditions (eg, pH, temperature, ion concentration, catalytic treatment, chemical reaction, etc.) can be used. Alternatively, after using a hydrogel that can swell or deform easily under these chemical conditions, the hydrogel can be physically removed. And, by removing the basic structure 310 from the inside of the temporary structure 320, the temporary structure 320 can be obtained. Here, by physically removing or chemically melting the basic structure 310, the basic structure 310 may be removed. To this end, the basic material of the basic structure 310 may be a material that can be melted under predetermined conditions, such as PLA, ABS, and the like. For example, by melting the basic material using an organic solvent such as chloroform or dichloromethane, the basic structure 310 may be removed without giving an image to the shape or size of the temporary structure 320 . Alternatively, it can be physically removed after softening by treating with an organic solvent as described above. Alternatively, it can be physically removed after being melted or softened under certain chemical conditions (eg, pH, temperature, ionic concentration, catalytic treatment, chemical reaction, etc.). Through this, in the temporary structure 320, a cavity 321 corresponding to the pattern 311 of the basic structure 310 therein may be provided as a channel.

Subsequently, in operation 430 , the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be contracted. At this time, by drying the hydrogel, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be contracted. When the hydrogel is dried, the moisture contained in the hydrogel is evaporated, and thus, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be contracted. At this time, as the temporary structures 220 and 320 are contracted, the channels of the temporary structures 220 and 320 , that is, the recess 221 or the cavity 321 may also be contracted. For example, for isotropic shrinkage, the hydrogel can be dried slowly while gradually increasing the temperature in a humid environment. Through this, the temporary structures 220 and 320 may be contracted in the longitudinal direction by about 40% to about 50% compared to before the shrinkage. Alternatively, hydrogels that shrink under specific chemical conditions may be used. For example, hydrogels that shrink at high or low temperatures, contract at high or low pH, high ion concentrations or low ion concentrations, or shrink after chemical reaction may be used.

Continuing, at step 441 , it may be determined whether to execute the iteration. That is, it may be determined whether there is a request for the temporary structures 220 and 320 having a further reduced size. At this time, if it is determined in step 441 that iteration should be performed, in step 445 , using the temporary structures 220 and 320 , the basic structures 210 and 310 may be re-generated. Through this, the basic structures 210 and 310 having a reduced size may be generated. For example, at the time of the first repetition, that is, when the number of repetitions is 1, for the size of the first generated basic structures 210 and 310, the basic structures 210 and 310 of the size reduced to 1/2 will be generated. can Thereafter, steps 420 and 430 are repeated, so that the temporary structures 220 and 320 having a further reduced size may be obtained. That is, iteratively, the temporary structures 220 and 320 of reduced size may be generated and contracted. For example, as the number of repetitions is added 2 times and 3 times, the basic structures 210 and 310 of the size reduced to 1/4 and 1/8 of the size of the first generated basic structures 210 and 310 are generated. will be

According to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , by applying a basic material to the surface of the temporary structure 220 , the basic structure 210 may be generated. Here, the basic material may be a curable material. For example, the basic material may be applied to the surface of the temporary structure 220 and then cured to form the basic structure 210 . And, by separating the temporary structure 220 from the basic structure 210, the basic structure 210 can be obtained. At this time, as the temporary structure 220 is contracted, the recess 221 of the temporary structure 220 is also contracted, and the basic structure 210 has a pattern corresponding to the recess 221 of the temporary structure 220 ( 211) can have. After that, steps 420 and 430 may be repeated.

According to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , by filling the inside of the temporary structure 320 with a basic material, the basic structure 310 may be generated. Here, the basic material may be a curable material. For example, the basic material may be applied to the inside of the temporary structure 320 and then cured to form the basic structure 310 . And, by removing the temporary structure 320 from the outside of the basic structure 310, the basic structure 310 can be obtained. As an example, the hardened basic material is cut into small pieces to form a powder, put into the cavity 321 inside the temporary structure 320, and the temperature is raised to soften or melt the basic material to make the inside of the cavity 321 uniform. After filling, the temperature can be lowered to harden the basic material. As another example, the cured basic material is dissolved in a solvent and put into a cavity, and the solvent is evaporated to form a cured basic structure 310. Here, by melting the temporary structure 320, the temporary structure 320 is to be removed For example, hydrogels can be removed by applying physical force or by melting under certain chemical conditions (eg, pH, temperature, ionic concentration, catalytic treatment, chemical reaction, etc.). In addition, after using a hydrogel that can be expanded or easily deformed under these chemical conditions, the temporary structure 320 is removed without affecting the shape or size of the basic structure 310 by physically removing the hydrogel. can At this time, as the temporary structure 320 is contracted, the cavity 321 of the temporary structure 320 is also contracted, and the basic structure 310 has a pattern 311 corresponding to the cavity 321 of the temporary structure 320 . can have After that, steps 420 and 430 may be repeated.

Finally, in step 450 , using the temporary structures 220 and 320 or the basic structures 210 and 310 , the final structures 250 and 350 may be generated. At this time, in step 441, if it is determined that it is not necessary to execute the repetition, using the temporary structures 220 and 320 or the basic structures 210 and 310, the final structures 250 and 350 may be generated. Here, using the final material, the final material 250 , 350 may be produced. For example, the final material may include at least one of elastomers such as PDMS and Ecoflex, resins, plastics, metals, metal oxides, ceramics, polymers, or hydrogels. Through this, the final structures 250 and 350 having a reduced size may be generated. As an example, when the repetition is not executed, the final structures 250 and 350 of the size reduced to 1/2 may be generated with respect to the size of the initially generated basic structures 210 and 310 . As another example, as the number of repetitions is added once or twice, the final structures 250 and 350 of the size reduced to 1/4 and 1/8 of the size of the first generated basic structures 210 and 310 will be generated. can Here, the final structures 250 and 350 may be formed from the temporary structures 220 and 320 . In this case, the final structures 250 and 350 have a structure (reverse tone) opposite to that of the initially formed basic structures 210 and 310 . Meanwhile, the final structures 250 and 350 may be formed from the basic structures 210 and 310 . In this case, the final structures 250 and 350 have the same structure while being small in size as the first formed basic structures 210 and 310 .

According to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the final structure 250 may be created by applying the final material to the surface of the temporary structure 220 . Here, the final material may be a curable material. For example, the final material may be applied to the surface of the temporary structure 220 and then cured to form the final structure 250 . And, by separating the temporary structure 220 from the final structure 250, the final structure 250 can be obtained. At this time, as the temporary structure 220 is contracted, the recess 221 of the temporary structure 220 is also contracted, and the final structure 250 has a pattern corresponding to the recess 221 of the temporary structure 220 ( 251) can have. At this time, since the basic structure 210 and the temporary structure 220 generated in the previous process are maintained without being removed, they may be used again.

According to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the final structure 350 may be created by applying the final material to the inside of the temporary structure 320 . Here, the final material may be a curable material. For example, the final material may be applied to the interior of the temporary structure 320 and then cured to form the final structure 350 . And, by removing the temporary structure 320 from the outside of the final structure 350, the final structure 350 can be obtained. Here, by melting the temporary structure 320 , the temporary structure 320 may be removed. For example, hydrogels can be removed by applying physical force or by melting under certain chemical conditions (eg, pH, temperature, ionic concentration, catalytic treatment, chemical reaction, etc.). In addition, after using a hydrogel that can be expanded or easily deformed under these chemical conditions, the temporary structure 320 can be removed without affecting the shape or size of the final structure 350 by physically removing the hydrogel. can At this time, as the temporary structure 320 is contracted, the cavity 321 of the temporary structure 320 is also contracted, and the final structure 350 is a pattern 351 corresponding to the cavity 321 of the temporary structure 320 . can have

In various embodiments, a high-resolution structure may be manufactured using a size-adjustable hydrogel. Specifically, by repeatedly shrinking the hydrogel while replacing the basic structures 210 and 310 produced through various technologies that can create arbitrary two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures, including 3D printing, with hydrogel, high-resolution, that is, reduced A final structure 250 , 350 of size can be obtained. As such, various embodiments are compatible with the existing structure manufacturing technique, and can be implemented without additional equipment through a hydrogel that can be synthesized at low cost, so it can be advantageous in terms of cost and time. In addition, according to various embodiments, the final structures 250 and 350 may be made of various materials such as elastomers, resins, plastics, metals, metal oxides, ceramics, polymers, or hydrogels. Accordingly, various embodiments may be utilized to easily manufacture a product suitable for individual needs, or to easily manufacture a high-precision miniaturized device having various functions such as a lab-on-a-chip and a sensor.

The method for manufacturing a high-resolution structure according to various embodiments is to generate the basic structures 210 and 310 (step 410), applying a hydrogel to the basic structures 210 and 310, and temporarily made of a hydrogel. Creating the structures 220 and 320 (step 420), contracting the hydrogel to contract the temporary structures 220 and 320 (step 430), and the temporary structures 220 and 320 or the basic structure 210 , 310 , generating the final structures 250 , 350 (step 450 ).

According to the first embodiment, the basic structure 210 has a predetermined pattern 211 , the temporary structure 220 may be provided with a recess 221 corresponding to the pattern 211 on one surface. .

According to the first embodiment, the step (step 420) of generating the temporary structure 220 includes the steps of applying a hydrogel on the pattern 211 to generate the temporary structure 220 by gelation of the hydrogel; and separating the temporary structure 220 on the pattern 211 to obtain the temporary structure 220 .

According to the first embodiment, the temporary structure 220 may be created to have elasticity and flexibility in order to prevent damage to the temporary structure 220 from occurring when the temporary structure 220 is separated.

According to the first embodiment, after the step (step 420) of shrinking the temporary structure 220, creating the basic structure 210 (step 410), creating the temporary structure 220 (step 420), and contracting the temporary structure 220 (step 430) may be repeated.

According to the first embodiment, the step (step 410) of creating the basic structure 210, when repeated, by applying a basic material to the surface of the temporary structure 220, creating a basic structure 210, And by separating the temporary structure 220 from the basic structure 210, it may include the step of obtaining the basic structure 210 (step 445).

According to a first embodiment, the step 450 of creating the final structure 250 includes applying the final material to the surface of the temporary structure 220 , having a pattern 251 corresponding to the recesses 221 . It may include generating the final structure 250 , and separating the temporary structure 220 from the final structure 250 to obtain the final structure 250 .

According to the first embodiment, the step (step 450) of creating the final structure 250 is the final material having the same pattern 251 as the recess 221 by applying the final material to the surface of the basic structure 210. Creating the structure 250 , and separating the basic structure 210 from the final structure 250 , may include the step of obtaining the final structure 250 .

According to the second embodiment, the basic structure 310 is implemented with a predetermined pattern 311 , and the temporary structure 320 may be provided with a cavity 321 corresponding to the pattern 311 therein.

According to the second embodiment, the step of generating the temporary structure 320 (step 420) is to apply the hydrogel to surround the basic structure 310, and to generate the temporary structure 320 by gelation of the hydrogel. and removing the basic structure 310 from the inside of the temporary structure 320 to obtain the temporary structure 320 .

According to the second embodiment, the basic structure 310 is made of a material that is physically or chemically removable under predetermined conditions, and may be removed from the inside of the temporary structure 320 .

According to the second embodiment, the step of obtaining the temporary structure 320 may include melting the basic structure 310 using an organic solvent, and removing the basic structure 310 .

According to the second embodiment, after the step (step 430) of shrinking the temporary structure 320, creating the basic structure 310 (step 410), creating the temporary structure 320 (step 420), and shrinking the temporary structure 320 (step 430) may be repeated.

According to the second embodiment, the step (step 410) of creating the basic structure 310, when repeated, filling the inside of the temporary structure 320 with a basic material, creating a basic structure 310, And by removing the temporary structure 320 from the outside of the basic structure 310, it may include the step of obtaining the basic structure 310 (step 445).

According to the second embodiment, the hydrogel may be physically or chemically removed under predetermined conditions, and may be removed from the outside of the basic structure 310 .

According to the second embodiment, the step of obtaining the basic structure 310 may include removing the temporary structure 320 by melting the hydrogel using a solution having a predetermined pH.

According to the second embodiment, the step (step 450) of generating the final structure 350 is implemented as a pattern 351 corresponding to the cavity 321 by applying the final material to the inside of the temporary structure 320 . It may include generating the final structure 350 , and removing the temporary structure 320 from the outside of the final structure 350 to obtain the final structure 350 .

According to the second embodiment, the step (step 450) of generating the final structure 350 is, by applying the final material to the inside of the basic structure 310, the final implemented in the same pattern 351 as the cavity 321 Creating the structure 350 , and removing the basic structure 310 from the outside of the final structure 350 , may include the step of obtaining the final structure 350 .

According to the second embodiment, generating the basic structure 310 (step 410) may include, through 3D printing, generating the basic structure 310.

According to various embodiments, the final structures 250 and 350 may be formed of at least one of an elastomer, a resin, a plastic, a metal, a metal oxide, a ceramic, a polymer, or a hydrogel.

According to various embodiments, by the above-described method, high-resolution final structures 250 and 350 may be manufactured.

According to various embodiments, the system 100 for manufacturing a high-resolution structure by performing the method described above is a basic structure generating unit 110 configured to generate the basic structures 210 and 310, the basic structures 210 and 310 ) by applying the hydrogel to the temporary structure generating unit 120, which is configured to create the temporary structures 220 and 320 made of hydrogel, to contract the hydrogel, to contract the temporary structures 220 and 320 Using the temporary structure constriction unit 130, and the temporary structures 220 and 320 or the basic structures 210 and 310, the final structure generating unit 150 configured to generate the final structures 250 and 350. may include

According to various embodiments, the system 100 generates the basic structures 210 and 310 from the temporary structures 220 and 320 after the temporary structures 220 and 320 are contracted, and the temporary structure creation unit 120 ) may further include an iterative processing unit 140 configured to provide.

As described above, the technique according to various embodiments is a technique to obtain a final structure of high resolution by repeatedly shrinking the basic structure generated through 3D printing using a contractible hydrogel. 5 to 11 are diagrams for explaining application of various embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 5, using a commonly available FDM-based low-resolution 3D printer, a basic structure of 4 times, 2 times, and 1 times the size was manufactured, and it was shrunk by applying the techniques according to various embodiments. The shape of the basic structure created through 3D printing that exceeded the output limit was not clear immediately after printing, while the final structure obtained through 3 shrinkages was obtained in a small size while maintaining the original shape.

As shown in FIG. 6 , a mold having a channel thickness of 300 μm is generated as a basic structure through 3D printing, and the technology according to various embodiments is repeatedly applied to this mold to improve resolution by about 3 times (~100 μm) was confirmed.

The hydrogel used in the technology according to various embodiments has high elasticity and flexibility. As shown in FIG. 7 , when the hydrogel is dried while the shape is adjusted during the shrinkage process, the size is contracted while maintaining the shape. After surrounding the outside with PDMS, it was confirmed that a final structure having a curved channel inside can be manufactured by dissolving the hydrogel inside.

As shown in FIG. 8 , a final structure of a hydrogel having a reduced channel was prepared by applying the techniques according to various embodiments. Here, the final structure was manufactured in the opposite structure of the first generated basic structure. As shown in FIG. 8A , it was confirmed that the structure was well maintained even after shrinkage by injecting a fluorescent dye inside. In addition, as shown in (B) of FIG. 8 , by injecting liquid metal into the channel, it showed the possibility of application in various fields such as sensors.

As shown in FIG. 9A , a hydrogel mask usable for material deposition was fabricated as a temporary structure by applying the techniques according to various embodiments. Then, silver nanowires were deposited through a spray coating technique. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, using the flexibility of the hydrogel, silver nanowires were deposited on a curved surface such as the surface of a glass vial, and then a circuit was constructed to conduct an LED spot lighting test.

)을 가지는 PCL(polycaprolactone)을 녹여서 수축된 하이드로젤 내부에 주입한 후 경화시켜 수축된 3차원의 최종 구조체를 획득하였다. 또한, 도 11에 도시된 바와 같이, 3D 프린팅을 통해 제작한 3차원의 베이직 구조체에 대해서도 다양한 실시예들에 따른 기술을 적용하였다.A final structure having a reduced size was manufactured by applying the techniques according to various embodiments to a three-dimensional basic structure. Here, the final structure was manufactured in a reduced size of the same structure as the first generated basic structure. In order to confirm that the technology according to various embodiments is applicable to a three-dimensional structure, as shown in FIG. 10 , a hydrogel was synthesized in a state surrounding a spherical ceramic ball and then shrunk. Relatively low melting point (60

) with polycaprolactone (PCL) dissolved and injected into the contracted hydrogel, and cured to obtain a contracted three-dimensional final structure. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11 , techniques according to various embodiments were applied to a three-dimensional basic structure fabricated through 3D printing.

Based on the advantage of being able to make customized products, 3D printing technology is showing high application potential in the existing manufacturing field. is attracting attention. In particular, in the bio- and medical-related industries, 3D printing technology is rapidly being applied to the entire industry in that it enables the production of personalized medical parts having complex shapes. In addition, the manufacture of various devices using 3D printing technology is also receiving great attention in that it can simplify the existing complex manufacturing process. By manufacturing a high-resolution structure by applying the technology according to various embodiments, it can be applied to the following various manufacturing industries that have a complex shape or require a fine structure based on improved resolution.

First, it can be applied in bio and medical related industries. The bio- and medical-related manufacturing industry is one of the fields in which 3D printing technology capable of small-volume production of various types of customized products can be utilized because it is important to manufacture medical parts tailored to individual patients. The production of implant parts through 3D printing is already being used for teeth correction, and research to print human organs such as bone tissue, artificial joints, and blood vessels with complex and fine structures is continuously being conducted.

Second, it can be applied to manufacturing small devices (lab-on-a-chip, sensors, etc.). A device has a specific function, such as a lab-on-a-chip, a biomimetic chip that can be used for research in various fields such as medical diagnosis, environmental and chemical analysis, or a sensor that detects, measures, and outputs physical/chemical information. As a device for performing the , it is used in various fields. For reasons such as minimization of material loss and ease of design and precision, research is being conducted to fabricate devices using 3D printing. Attempts to improve or mimic complex forms of living organisms are in progress.

The technology according to various embodiments may be used together with the previously used personalized 3D printing technology. Recently, bio-medical-related markets are actively developing high-precision medical product manufacturing technology that can reproduce the complex structure of a living body as it is. The technology according to various embodiments of the present invention will enable manufacturing of individually customized medical parts having such a complex structure or requiring high precision using a commonly supplied 3D printer rather than a high-resolution and expensive 3D printer. Based on high accessibility, it is expected to be able to manufacture suitable products according to individual needs in that it can be easily used in daily life.

The technology according to various embodiments makes it possible to manufacture a miniaturized structure based on the existing 3D printing technique. If the 3D printing technique and this technology are applied to the production of devices showing various uses, such as lab-on-a-chip or sensors, it will be possible to manufacture miniaturized devices with high precision. Devices manufactured on a smaller scale are expected to broaden the range of applications, such as showing high measurement precision or facilitating bioimplantation based on a fine and complex structure.

The various embodiments of this document and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technology described in this document to a specific embodiment, but it should be understood to cover various modifications, equivalents, and/or substitutions of the embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, like reference numerals may be used for like components. The singular expression may include the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this document, expressions such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and/or B”, “A, B or C” or “at least one of A, B and/or C” refer to all of the items listed together. Possible combinations may be included. Expressions such as “first”, “second”, “first” or “second” can modify the corresponding components regardless of order or importance, and are used only to distinguish one component from another. It does not limit the corresponding components. When an (eg, first) component is referred to as being “connected (functionally or communicatively)” or “connected” to another (eg, second) component, that component is It may be directly connected to the component, or may be connected through another component (eg, a third component).

As used herein, the term “module” includes a unit composed of hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as, for example, logic, logic block, component, or circuit. A module may be an integrally formed part or a minimum unit or a part of performing one or more functions. For example, the module may be configured as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

According to various embodiments, each component (eg, a module or a program) of the described components may include a singular or a plurality of entities. According to various embodiments, one or more components or steps among the above-described corresponding components may be omitted, or one or more other components or steps may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (eg, a module or a program) may be integrated into one component. In this case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each component of the plurality of components identically or similarly to those performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to integration. According to various embodiments, steps performed by a module, program, or other component are executed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the steps are executed in a different order, omitted, or , or one or more other steps may be added.

Claims (20)

In the high-resolution structure manufacturing method,
creating a basic structure;
generating a temporary structure made of the hydrogel by applying a hydrogel to the basic structure;
by contracting the hydrogel, contracting the temporary structure; and
Using the temporary structure or the basic structure, generating a final structure
containing,
Way.
The method of claim 1,
The basic structure,
have a predetermined pattern,
In the temporary structure,
A recess (recess) corresponding to the pattern is provided on one surface,
Way.
3. The method of claim 2,
Creating the temporary structure comprises:
generating the temporary structure by gelation of the hydrogel by applying the hydrogel on the pattern; and
Separating the temporary structure on the pattern to obtain the temporary structure
containing,
Way.
4. The method of claim 3,
The temporary structure is
In order to prevent damage to the temporary structure from occurring when the temporary structure is detached, it is created to have elasticity and flexibility,
Way.
4. The method of claim 3,
After the step of shrinking the temporary structure,
Creating the basic structure, generating the temporary structure, and shrinking the temporary structure,
repeated,
The step of creating the basic structure,
when repeated, applying a basic material to the surface of the temporary structure to create the basic structure; and
Separating the temporary structure from the basic structure, obtaining the basic structure
containing,
Way.
4. The method of claim 3,
Creating the final structure comprises:
applying a final material to the surface of the temporary structure to create the final structure having a pattern corresponding to the recess; and
Separating the temporary structure from the final structure to obtain the final structure
containing,
Way.
4. The method of claim 3,
Creating the final structure comprises:
applying a final material to the surface of the basic structure to create the final structure having the same pattern as the recess; and
Separating the basic structure from the final structure, obtaining the final structure
containing,
Way.
The method of claim 1,
The basic structure,
implemented in a predetermined pattern,
In the temporary structure,
A cavity corresponding to the pattern is provided therein,
Way.
9. The method of claim 8,
Creating the temporary structure comprises:
Applying the hydrogel to surround the basic structure, generating the temporary structure by the gelation of the hydrogel; and
removing the basic structure from the inside of the temporary structure to obtain the temporary structure
containing,
Way.
10. The method of claim 9,
The basic structure,
produced from a material that is physically or chemically removable under predetermined conditions and removed from the interior of the temporary structure,
Way.
11. The method of claim 10,
Obtaining the temporary structure comprises:
Dissolving the basic structure using an organic solvent, removing the basic structure
containing,
Way.
10. The method of claim 9,
After the step of shrinking the temporary structure,
Creating the basic structure, generating the temporary structure, and shrinking the temporary structure,
repeated,
The step of creating the basic structure,
When repeated, filling the inside of the temporary structure with a basic material, generating the basic structure; and
By removing the temporary structure from the outside of the basic structure, obtaining the basic structure
containing,
Way.
12. The method of claim 11,
The hydrogel is
Physically or chemically removable under predetermined conditions, removed from the outside of the basic structure,
Way.
14. The method of claim 13,
The step of obtaining the basic structure,
removing the temporary structure by dissolving the hydrogel using a solution having a predetermined pH
containing,
Way.
10. The method of claim 9,
Creating the final structure comprises:
generating the final structure implemented in a pattern corresponding to the cavity by applying a final material to the inside of the temporary structure; and
removing the temporary structure from the outside of the final structure to obtain the final structure
containing,
Way.
10. The method of claim 9,
Creating the final structure comprises:
generating the final structure implemented in the same pattern as the cavity by applying the final material to the outside of the basic structure; and
By removing the basic structure from the inside of the final structure, obtaining the final structure
containing,
Way.
The method of claim 1,
The step of creating the basic structure,
Through 3D printing, generating the basic structure
containing,
Way.
A high-resolution structure produced by the method according to claim 1.
In the high-resolution structure manufacturing system for performing the method according to claim 1,
a basic structure generating unit configured to generate a basic structure;
a temporary structure generating unit configured to generate a temporary structure made of the hydrogel by applying a hydrogel to the basic structure;
a temporary structure contracting part configured to contract the hydrogel to contract the temporary structure; and
Using the temporary structure or the basic structure, the final structure generation unit configured to create a final structure
containing,
system.
20. The method of claim 19,
After the temporary structure is contracted, to generate a basic structure from the temporary structure, iterative processing unit configured to provide to the temporary structure generation unit
further comprising,
system.

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