In the world of 3D printing, there are challenges in utilizing nanocomposites and low-viscous materials due to their rheological requirements and the complexity of their preparation. However, a recent study proposes a promising solution to overcome these obstacles. By employing chemical crosslinking between different components, researchers have found a universal approach to address these issues. In this particular study, they focused on a model system consisting of bioactive glass nanoparticles and a light-responsive protein called bovine serum albumin. Through the use of specific crosslinking agents, they successfully enhanced the interaction between these components. The resulting nanocomposite inks displayed improved properties, including increased elasticity and viscosity, making them suitable for 3D printing applications. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for creating customizable and light-responsive materials with a wide range of potential uses. The findings provide valuable insights for the development of advanced additive manufacturing technologies applied in InterLynk.

Contributors: João Rocha Maia, Edgar Castanheira, João M.M. Rodrigues, Rita Sobreiro-Almeida, João F. Mano

Journal: Methods

Title: Engineering natural based nanocomposite inks via interface interaction for extrusion 3D printing

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2023.03.001

Date: Available online 17 March 2023

Abstract:

Nanocomposites and low-viscous materials lack translation in additive manufacturing technologies due to deficiency in rheological requirements and heterogeneity of their preparation. This work proposes the chemical crosslinking between composing phases as a universal approach for mitigating such issues. The model system is composed of amine-functionalized bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNP) and light-responsive methacrylated bovine serum albumin (BSAMA) which further allows post-print photocrosslinking. The interfacial interaction was conducted by 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide crosslinking agent and N-Hydroxysuccinimide between BGNP-grafted amines and BSAMA’s carboxylic groups. Different chemical crosslinking amounts and percentages of BGNP in the nanocomposites were tested. The improved interface interactions increased the elastic and viscous modulus of all formulations. More pronounced increases were found with the highest crosslinking agent amounts (4 % w/v) and BGNP concentrations (10 % w/w). This formulation also displayed the highest Young’s modulus of the double-crosslinked construct. All composite formulations could effectively immobilize the BGNP and turn an extremely low viscous material into an appropriate inks for 3d printing technologies, attesting for the systems’ tunability. Thus, we describe a versatile methodology which can successfully render tunable and light-responsive nanocomposite inks with homogeneously distributed bioactive fillers. This system can further reproducibly recapitulate phases of other natures, broadening applicability.