Engineering Natural Pollen Grains as Multifunctional 3D Printing Materials |
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Authors: | Shengyang Chen Qian Shi Taesik Jang Mohammed Shahrudin Bin Ibrahim Jingyu Deng Gaia Ferracci Wen See Tan Nam-Joon Cho Juha Song |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637459 Singapore;2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Chosun University, Gwangju, 61452 Republic of Korea;3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798 Singapore |
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Abstract: | The development of multifunctional 3D printing materials from sustainable natural resources is a high priority in additive manufacturing. Using an eco-friendly method to transform hard pollen grains into stimulus-responsive microgel particles, we engineered a pollen-derived microgel suspension that can serve as a functional reinforcement for composite hydrogel inks and as a supporting matrix for versatile freeform 3D printing systems. The pollen microgel particles enabled the printing of composite inks and improved the mechanical and physiological stabilities of alginate and hyaluronic acid hydrogel scaffolds for 3D cell culture applications. Moreover, the particles endowed the inks with stimulus-responsive controlled release properties. The suitability of the pollen microgel suspension as a supporting matrix for freeform 3D printing of alginate and silicone rubber inks was demonstrated and optimized by tuning the rheological properties of the microgel. Compared with other classes of natural materials, pollen grains have several compelling features, including natural abundance, renewability, affordability, processing ease, monodispersity, and tunable rheological features, which make them attractive candidates to engineer advanced materials for 3D printing applications. |
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Keywords: | 3D printing bioinks bioinspired materials biomaterials pollen supporting matrices sustainability |
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