Bio ink 3d printing

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December 23, 2021, 12:42 Print

Researchers have created a new type of bio-ink.

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Unique 3D printing material based on pollen

Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have developed a 3D bioprinting ink with sunflower extract that could kick-start a new generation of biomedical devices.

Unlike conventional malleable bio-inks, pollen-based bio-inks can be configured to be more rigid so they can be 3D printed into structures without losing integrity between layers. Scientists who have already used their inks to create scaffolds for tissue regenerative cells now believe they have significant potential in tissue engineering, toxicity testing and drug delivery.

“Bioprinting can be challenging because the material of the ink used is typically too soft, meaning that the structure of the intended product can break down during printing,” explained study co-lead author Cho Nam-Joon. “By tuning the mechanical properties of sunflower pollen, we have developed a pollen-based hybrid ink that can be used to print structures with good structural integrity.”

“Given that there are many types of pollen, pollen microgel suspensions have the potential to be used to create a new class of sustainable 3D printing materials.”

Chart depicting researchers' pollen-based 3D printing method. Image from Advanced Functional Materials magazine.

Bioprinted Reinforced Hydrogels

Due to its inherent ability to incorporate living cells, Direct Ink Writing (DIW) 3D printing is becoming an increasingly popular means of creating biomedical devices such as tissue scaffolds. Similarly, hydrogels are often used in DIW because they are customizable, they facilitate cell attachment, and are able to accurately mimic biological tissues.

However, according to NTU researchers, hydrogels are also characterized by low mechanical stability and bioinertness, which requires the creation of "hybrid" inks that "provide functions and properties unattainable by any hydrogel."

In the past, some scientists have found that integrating nanofibers or nanoplates into hydrogel bioinks strengthens them and prevents printer nozzles from clogging. Others have developed support matrices made up of hydrogels, cells, and rubber that help keep printed structures in place before they are fully cured, as well as provide increased stability and resilience through recycled ingredients.

Inspired by the latter, the NTU team created a suspension of microgels from renewable pollen grains. The scientists argue that given its uniform size and regulated and consistent rheological behavior, the pollen provides ideal support matrices, and its ability to respond to stimuli could give it potential drug delivery capabilities.

Researchers have developed two different inks, one for cell loading devices and the other for biomedical support. Image from Advanced Functional Materials magazine.

Pollen-Based Biomedical Devices

To create their new bioink, the researchers started by using a soap-making method to turn sunflower pollen into a microgel suspension. This substance was then mixed with alginate, rubber and hyaluronic acid, resulting in a mixture of pollen grains with a softer outer layer than usual, which allowed them to be compressed in the printer nozzle without jamming.

In fact, during early testing, scientists discovered that they could extrude their bio-ink with any given amount of pollen content without clogging up their 3D printer. After demonstrating the initial viability of their material by creating multilayer microstructures, the team then proceeded to fabricate dye-loaded scaffolds to evaluate its drug delivery potential.

Interestingly, the amount of dye released during these experiments varied over time, so due to sensitivity to pollen stimuli, the bioink can be tuned to release drugs according to the dosages for a particular patient. Given that pollen is also biocompatible, the researchers were also able to load their scaffolds with cells, creating a five-layer structure that demonstrated 94% cell viability.

The scientists 3D-printed their ink to create an 'elbow mesh' with 'good structural fidelity'. Image from Advanced Functional Materials magazine.

Finally, the team increased the rubber and alginate content of their inks to test their ability to produce more traditional biomedical devices. In practice, this meant creating a device in the form of a silicone rubber dome, which, according to the scientists, “demonstrated good structural accuracy” and “improved print resolution” thanks to the pollen base.

The researchers intend to further optimize their slurry by improving its recyclability after several heating cycles, but they already see it as a viable way to avoid jams during 3D printing, and given its stimulus-responsive behavior, they say that it could be an "abundant and readily available source material" for future biomedical applications.

"Our findings could open up new possibilities for creating flexible membranes that precisely fit the contours of human skin, such as wound dressings or face masks," said study co-author Sun Juha. “Using our biocompatible, flexible and low-cost inks, we can make membranes that are tailored to the contours of human skin and able to flex without breaking.”

As the 3D printing industry continues to search for sustainable alternatives to oil-based polymers, scientists are increasingly looking to Mother Nature for answers. For example, researchers at the Portuguese University of Aveiro and the Institute of Materials of Aveiro have recently developed a bamboo-based ABS material that they say produces "higher quality parts.

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