Sunflower pollen might just be the most important discovery of the decade.
Nature has always provided humanity with scientific breakthroughs, from car designs to healthcare,
nature benefits all facets of life. Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) recently discovered 3D-printed ink created from sunflower pollen,
That could come in handy in tissue engineering, toxicity testing and drug delivery.
And why is this important?
The pollen ink can maintain its shape when placed on a surface, making it an alternative to regular bio-printing ink.
Current bio-print inks are very delicate, Making it challenging to hold the product’s desired final 3d shape and structure as the bioprinter deposits the ink in layers.
To further prove the use of their pollen-based ink, NTU Singapore researchers printed a Bio-tissue scaffold that was proven to be suitable for cell adhesion and growth, which is vital for tissue growth.
The team’s results are detailed in Advanced Functional Materials.
The advanced functional materials highlight the edge it has over current bioprinting inks.
The Sunflower Pollen Research
Professor Cho Nam-Joon over at the NTU School of Materials Sciences and Engineering is cooking up something pretty mind-blowing in the world of 3D printing. Brace yourselves for the scoop on bioprinting – it’s got its quirks, especially when dealing with ink materials that are too soft. Picture this: you’re in the middle of printing your masterpiece, and bam! The soft ink messes it all up. Nightmare, right?
But guess what? Professor Cho and his team cracked the code! They’ve been playing around with the properties of pollen, and guess what they came up with? A pollen-based ink that’s like the superhero of the 3D printing world. It prints layers with impeccable structural integrity. Say goodbye to the flimsy final products – pollen ink has got your back!
Hold onto your hats because it gets even cooler. The team went a step further and showed off the magic of their 3D scaffold. It’s not just a pretty structure; it’s a genius drug delivery system. They sprinkled a bright red dye on the scaffold, and here’s the kicker – pollen microgel particles released the dye steadily into the scaffold. And that’s not all – they discovered that adding an acid cranks up the delivery speed. Imagine the possibilities! The pollen-based ink isn’t just a printer’s dream; it’s a potential game-changer in drug delivery.
Now, let’s talk about the headaches of modern 3D bio-inks. They’re constantly dealing with jams and unstable structures. It’s like trying to build a sandcastle that keeps collapsing. But fear not, because our pollen-based ink is a trooper. It stands firm, retains its structure, and doesn’t throw any tantrums that might jam your printer. Smooth sailing all the way!
And here’s the best part – the team isn’t keeping this innovation under wraps. No sir! They’re itching to team up with the industry, fine-tune their method, and, of course, make this groundbreaking pollen-based ink available to the masses. Imagine a world where 3D printing is a breeze, and drug delivery is as easy as pie. Thanks, Professor Cho and team – you’re making the future look pretty darn exciting!
