3D printing has been making waves in industries like architecture and medtech. From wearable fabrics aiding rehabilitation to manufacturing assistance and design, the possibilities are endless. This year, the University of Texas at Austin published a new approach in 3D printing by utilizing light.
Dual-light printing system
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin recently developed a new 3D printing method with the use of custom-designed liquid resin. This enables them to quickly build objects with both soft and hard materials. With a dual-light printing system, materials react and can be controlled using different colors of light. When violet light is used, the resin hardens into a soft, rubbery form. Meanwhile, exposing the material to stronger ultraviolet light will make it stiff and durable instead.
The team put this finding to the test by 3D printing tiny knee joints with flexible ligaments and rigid bones. This resulted in a flexible functioning object with both softness and hardness in a single print. According to Zak Page, an assistant professor of chemistry at the university, “the soft parts stretched like a rubber band and bounced back. The hard parts were as strong as plastics used in consumer products”. Additionally, the researchers believe that the printing setup for this is affordable and easy for medical and other industries to tap into. With the availability of many types of 3D printers in the market, the cost of these machines could continue to be more affordable. The low cost of this innovation could significantly benefit the general public once it becomes widely accessible.
Looking at the future
The use of unique light colors for adaptability offers a promising new era that may potentially help the future of bioprinting. Continuous discovery of new 3D printing methods can change regenerative medicine and robotics altogether. With the ability to generate stretchable electronics, wearable health monitors and biosensors can be more versatile and comfortable for the users. “It could be used to prototype surgical models, wearable sensors or even soft robots,” Page added.
For now, this will need more extensive research and actual clinical trials. Factors like the safety of materials used, user compatibility, and procedures taken must be considered well to ensure not just safety but also sustainability. If successful and widely applied in industries, this dual-material 3D printing will benefit not just the medical field but also areas like engineering and education.
YouTube: UT researchers make 3D printing breakthrough
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Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been taken by Jakub Żerdzicki. The images used in the article are owned by The University of Texas at Austin and have been provided for press usage.
Sources: The University of Texas at Austin / Neil J. Mardis (National Library of Medicine)
