Allevi Introduces the New Triple-Extruder Bioprinter Allevi 3

Philadelphia-based bioprinting company Allevi was founded in 2014, then known as BioBots. Its goal is to make bioprinting easy – no small task, as bioprinting has always been a complex, advanced procedure. But Allevi’s desktop bioprinters are designed to be easy to use and versatile, while remaining powerful. Allevi has grown into a global company with customers in labs all over the world, and its bioprinters and bioinks have been used in some groundbreaking research.

Allevi is now introducing its latest 3D printer, the Allevi 3, which joins the Allevi 1, Allevi 2 and Allevi 6 – as well as the Allevi ZeroG, the first 3D bioprinter in space. According to the company, the Allevi 3 allows users to “print any cell line, into any geometry for any application that you can imagine.” Like Allevi’s other 3D bioprinters, the Allevi 3 is designed to be easy to use, a plug-and-play machine with pre-made protocols for all bioinks and easy-to-follow tutorials available. Allevi also offers plenty of support to help customers with any needs or issues they may have.

Versatility is another feature the Allevi 3 boasts. Each extruder has a full temperature range from 4°C to 160ºC, and users can control every print parameter using Allevi software. It also features an open platform for full customization possibilities. The printer is capable of 3D printing with any material, ranging from collagen to thermoplastics. Other possibilities include matrigel solutions, alginate, graphene, carbohydrate glass and more.

The Allevi 3 has three extruders, hence its name, allowing users to fabricate complex tissues in one simple step. The print bed features temperature control from RT-60C to keep cells viable for longer periods, as well as to hold petri dishes, well plates and glass slides. The printer offers auto calibration, making it even easier to use, and users can choose to cure their bioinks in either visible or ultraviolet light. The extruders have two separate LEDs in the ranges of 365nm and 405nm, and light intensity can be adjusted from 0 to 20 mW/cm2.

The 3D bioprinter’s extruders and bed plate are interchangeable to make the machine future-proof, allowing it to evolve with changes in bioprinting technology. The system is completely open – it accepts 5mL luer lock syringes and is compatible with every bioink kit that Allevi offers on its platform.

A few specifications of the Allevi 3:

• Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 14 in
• Weight: 22 lbs
• XY precision: 1 micron
• Z precision: 1 micron
• Print resolution: 150 microns
• Build volume: 9 x 13 x 6 mm

According to Allevi, the new 3D printer was inspired by the work of the company’s customers around the world. Allevi takes obvious pride in the advances that its clients have made with the use of its bioprinters, and states that “We believe everyone has the potential to change the course of medicine.” There are numerous bioprinting companies in the world, and while that makes for some stiff competition, one could argue that the more companies there are, the better, as scientists work toward eliminating the organ donor waiting list, creating new pharmaceuticals and disease treatments, and more. Who knows what might be accomplished with the Allevi 3?

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[Images: Allevi]