Revolutionizing 3D Printing: Microalgae-Based Ink for Advanced Biocompatible Structures

What if 3D laser printing ink were made from microalgae? Researchers at Heidelberg University, as detailed in Advanced Materials June 2024, have developed a novel 3D printing ink based on microalgae. This ink harnesses triglyceride lipids rich in chlorophyll derivatives from the diatom Odontella aurita and the green microalga Tetraselmis striata. These chlorophyll-rich triglycerides facilitate photopolymerization, enabling the ink to be used directly without additional photoinitiators. The researchers successfully used this microalgae-based ink to create intricate 3D structures with sub-micron resolution. Its biocompatibility and non-toxic nature make it a promising candidate for advancing implant technologies and cell culture scaffolds in biotechnology.

Revolutionizing 3D Printing: Microalgae-Based Ink for Advanced Biocompatible Structures