Medical & Dental

GWU’s blossoming 4D printed biostructure contributes to regenerative medicine research

Researchers fromGeorge Washington University(GWU) have developed a4D bioprinting technique to create multi-responsive smart structures for nerve regeneration. In a proof-of-conceptstudypublished inAdvanced Biosystems, the researchers produced a smart nerve guidance conduit capable of “blooming like a flower.”

Blossoming 4D printed biostructures

Regenerative medicine research working towards functional artificial organs has enabled3D printed complex vascular tissue structuresandcell scaffolds for repairing the damage to the human body.

Nevertheless, according to the study, 3D printed biostructures with integrated time-dependent shape changes, i.e.4D printing, “offers the opportunity to realize more complicated folded structures in biomedical devices or soft robotics, as well as in tissue engineering to mimic dynamic changes of native tissues and organs.”

乔治华盛顿大学的研究人员提出一个stereolithographic 3D printing method applied with the “universal concept of stress‐induced shape transformation” to achieve the 4D dynamic reversible movement reminiscent of a flower in bloom. The following clip from GWU demonstrates the blooming movement.

SLA 4D printing

Using anaturally derived photocrosslinkable monomer – Soybean Oil Epoxidized Acrylate (SOEA) – as an ink, the GWU team were able to create a solidified flat star structure as a result to UVlight‐induced graded internal stress.

TheSOEA is then washed with ethanol forsolvent‐induced relaxationwhich dynamically transforms the structure into a claw formation. This change isautonomous and reversible. Furthermore,various nanoparticles, such as nanohybrids with graphene, are incorporated into the structures during the printing process for further shape modification. This addition has been used to generate structures resembling flying birds.

Following an in-depth analysis, the researchers concluded that these smart structures can provide“优秀多功能特点为nerve regeneration including physical guidance, chemical cues, dynamic self‐entubulation, and seamless integration.”

“By employing this fabrication technique, creating multiresponsive smart architectures, as well as demonstrating application potential, this work paves the way for true initiation of 4D printing in various high‐value research fields.”

A depiction of the 4D printed smart structure. Image via GWU.
A depiction of the 4D printed smart structure. Image via GWU.

研究论文”Stereolithographic 4D Bioprinting of Multiresponsive Architectures for Neural Engineeringis co-authored by Lijie Grace Zhang, Shida Miao, Haitao Cui, Margaret Nowicki,Lang Xia, Xuan Zhou, Se‐Jun Lee, Wei Zhu, Kausik Sarkar, and Zhiyong Zhang.

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Featured image shows blossoming 4D smart structures forming birds and flowers. Photo via GWU.