Toward the fabrication of extruded microstructured bioresorbable phosphate glass optical fibers

The steps toward the fabrication of directly extruded microstructured fiber preforms made of a bioresorbable phosphate glass are herein presented, analyzing the features of the process from the glass synthesis to the manufacturing of the fiber. The realization of these fibers leverages on three main pillars: an optically transparent bioresorbable glass, its extrusion into a preform, and the fiber drawing. The glass has been designed and carefully prepared in our laboratory to be dissolvable in a biological fluid while being optically transparent and suitable for both preform extrusion and fiber drawing. To support the production of an optimized die for the preform extrusion, a simplified laminar flow model simulation has been employed. This model is intended as a tool for a fast and reliable way to catch the complex behavior of glass flow during each extrusion and can be regarded as an effective design guide for the dies to fulfill the specific needs for preform fabrication. After die optimization, extrusion of a capillary was realized, and a stacking of extruded tubes was drawn to produce a microstructured optical fiber made of bioresorbable phosphate glass.