Technology

An ink to produce biomaterials with 3D printers.

Achieving a unique combination of materials derived from nature, 3D printing, and good mechanical properties has been the challenge taken on by the research team at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) School of Engineering, who found the answer by developing an ink for 3D printers that contains calcium carbonate-producing bacteria, a mineral present in natural materials such as bones or shells.

To achieve the successful results, the team used a bacterium with the ability to trigger the mineralization process when in contact with a urea solution, the chosen bacterium was Sporosarcina pasteurii.

The ink, called BactoInk, can be printed in any shape and after a few days, the mineralization of the ink transforms it into a composite material with a strength and hardness like natural materials, such as bones.

The team, led by Esther Amstad, who is head of EPFL's Soft Materials Laboratory, has created a 3D printing technique that opens the door to a wide variety of applications, from the restoration of damaged structures to the production of artificial corals that can aid in the regeneration of marine reefs, to regenerative medicine.

In addition to all these benefits, by using the BactoInk technique to create new elements, these offer not only an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional synthetic materials, but also allow the production of high-quality composites, without additional processes, or as in the case of ceramic manufacturing, at extreme temperatures. On the other hand, these final products no longer contain live bacteria, as they are immersed in ethanol at the end of the mineralization process.

BactoInk's ability to print strong, lightweight materials has important implications for regenerative medicine, where bone and cartilage tissues are crucial. In the field of art restoration, BactoInk can be applied directly to damaged areas for repair, preventing future deterioration.

More information can be found at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702123000214

21 de Marzo, 2023