3D printing with "living" ink will allow you to create unique biochemical "factories"
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) have developed a new type of “ink” for the 3D printing process. The key active component of this ink is living bacteria and microorganisms, the type of which determines the functional characteristics of the printed biochemical “factory”. For example, one type of living ink contains the bacteria Pseudomonas putida, which breaks down phenols, and the bacteria Acetobacter xylinum, which produces extremely pure nanocellulose, a moisture-retaining material that has pain-relieving properties, making it ideal for treating burns. “Living” ink Flink (functional living ink), consists of a viscous biocompatible gel, made on the basis of long molecules of saccharides, quartz and hyaluronic acid. In addition, Flink ink contains several other substances that are a breeding ground for bacteria living in them.
The consistency of Flink ink plays a very important role, things printed from them should retain their shape, while leaving some freedom of movement for the bacteria enclosed in them. “The ink needs to be viscous like toothpaste, and the consistency should match that of a high-quality hand cream. Only when all of these conditions are met will the bacteria in this ink be able to accomplish the task assigned to it, “says Manuel Schaffner, lead researcher.
The structures printed with Flink inks can be as simple as lattices. At the same time, bacteria can be concentrated only in a given part of the printed structure, which is achieved by changing the composition of the ink directly during the printing process. In a single pass, a 3D printer can use several different types of ink containing different types of bacteria. As a result, different parts of printed objects can have different properties and effects.
The variety of uses for Flink inks is limited only by the number of bacteria species that can be used in their composition. An example is a tap nozzle, the bacteria inside of which will remove harmful substances from drinking water, or large filters that purify water from spilled oil.
However, the practical use of Flink live ink will still be hindered by a number of serious problems for some time. The process of 3D printing with this ink is rather slow and researchers do not yet see suitable solutions to speed up and scale it up. What’s more, scientists don’t yet know how long bacteria inside 3D printed products can survive. “However, given the extremely low nutrient requirements of bacteria, we dare to assume that bacteria will remain alive for a very long time. This will be sufficient time to make Flink ink products and deliver these products to the point of use, “the researchers write. Sour
ce: www.dailytechinfo.org