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. 2023 Aug 10;15(16):3363.
doi: 10.3390/polym15163363.

Excellent Characteristics of Environmentally Friendly 3D-Printed Nasopharyngeal Swabs for Medical Sample Collection

Ahmad Mamba'udin  1 , Murni Handayani  2 , Farid Triawan  3 , Yosephin Dewiani Rahmayanti  2 , Muhammad Akhsin Muflikhun  1
Affiliations

Excellent Characteristics of Environmentally Friendly 3D-Printed Nasopharyngeal Swabs for Medical Sample Collection

Ahmad Mamba'udin et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

3D-printed nasopharyngeal swabs for medical sample collection have been manufactured via additive manufacturing (AM), evaluated, and characterized in the present study. A multi-part component of nasopharyngeal swabs was proposed, in which the swab and handle were manufactured separately to reach sustainable production and environmentally friendly products. The swab was investigated using tensile, flexural, surface roughness, dimensional accuracy, and sample collection testing. The influence of printing parameters and post-curing time treatment on the mechanical properties, surface roughness, and dimensional accuracy of 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swabs were also evaluated. The result showed that 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab shows outstanding tensile strength compared to the commercial flock nasopharyngeal swab. Moreover, the swab neck flexibility test showed that both PLA and dental non-castable 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swabs were able to bend 180°. Subsequently, the surface roughness of 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab was identic with the commercial flock nasopharyngeal swab. The proposed 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab design could carry an artificial mucus sample of 141.6 mg at a viscosity of 9455.4 mPa.s. The cost to fabricate a 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab was estimated at USD0.01-0.02 per swab. 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab shows potential as a feasible option, greener, less medical waste, and more sustainable.

Keywords: COVID-19; additive manufacturing; nasopharyngeal swab; vat photopolymerization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Swab head. (A) Swab head tip, (B) side view of swab head [34].
Figure 2
Figure 2
3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab model. (A) Full side view swab, (B) Detailed spot of breaking point, (C) Handle, (D) Section view of handle, (E) Swab and handle assembled [34].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Build orientation specimen on software slicer. (A) 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab, (B) Flexural test specimen.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Build plate design of swab handle fabrication.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Sample collection testing schematic.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Testing conditions. (A) Sample collection test, (B) Tensile test, (C) Flexural test, (D) Surface roughness test, (E) Dimensional accuracy test.
Figure 7
Figure 7
3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab manufacturing results. (A) PLA PRO, (B) Dental non-castable, (C) Assembled swab and handle.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Delamination defect on a 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab (Z speed of 2 mm/s). (A) Delamination on the swab head, (B) Delamination on the swab neck, (C) The delaminated photopolymer resin attached to the resin vat.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Ragging defect on 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab (ET 8 s, LT 0.05 mm). (A) Ragging on the swab neck, (B) Damage in the FEP film resin vat.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Schematic of UV light scattering.
Figure 11
Figure 11
The influence of layer thickness and curing time on the tensile strength of 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Nasopharyngeal swab fracture location during tensile testing. (A) Commercial flock nasopharyngeal swab, (B) 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Breaking point evaluation of 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab (LT 0.05 mm). (A) PLA PRO, (B) Dental non-castable.
Figure 14
Figure 14
The influence of layer thickness and curing time on the flexural strength specimen.
Figure 15
Figure 15
The influence of layer thickness and curing time on the flexural modulus.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Voids in the fracture surface of the specimen (LT 0.1 mm). (A) PLA PRO, (B) Dental non-castable.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Visible voids on the printed specimen surface (LT 0.1 mm). (A) PLA PRO. (B) Dental non-castable.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Swab neck flexibility test. (A) PLA PRO, (B) Dental non-castable.
Figure 19
Figure 19
Average surface roughness value of 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab.
Figure 20
Figure 20
Ridge effect phenomenon on the 3D-printed nasopharyngeal swab (LT 0.1 mm). (A) PLA PRO, (B) Dental non-castable.
Figure 21
Figure 21
Ridge effect schematic on the printed part.
Figure 22
Figure 22
Average AE value of swab. (A) Neck diameter, (B) Head diameter, (C) Base diameter, (D) Head length.
Figure 23
Figure 23
(A) Viscosity measurement of artificial mucus with a different concentration of epoxy resin bisphenol A and acetone. (B) Sample collection test result.
Figure 24
Figure 24
3D-printed nasopharyngeal final prints. (A) PLA PRO, (B) Dental non-castable.
Figure 25
Figure 25
Cost comparison to the swab characteristics. (A) Tensile load at the break, (B) Surface roughness.
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