The team of researchers at the University of Minnesota also printed biological cells on the skin wound of a mouse, which could lead to new medical treatments for wound healing and direct printing of grafts for skin disorders. The research has been published in Advanced Materials.
“We are excited about the potential of this new 3D printing technology using a portable, lightweight printer costing less than $400,” said Michael McAlpine, the study’s lead author and the University of Minnesota Benjamin Mayhugh Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. “We imagine that a soldier could pull this printer out of a backpack and print a chemical sensor or other electronics they need, directly on the skin. It would be like a ‘Swiss Army knife’ of the future with everything they need all in one portable 3D printing tool.”
According to the University, a key innovation of the new 3D printing technique is that the printer can adjust to small movements of the body during printing. Temporary markers are placed on the skin and the skin is scanned. The printer uses computer vision to adjust to movements in real-time.
“No matter how hard anyone would try to stay still when using the printer on the skin, a person moves slightly and every hand is different,” McAlpine said. “This printer can track the hand using the markers and adjust in real-time to the movements and contours of the hand, so printing of the electronics keeps its circuit shape.”
Another unique feature of this 3D printing technique is that it uses a specialised ink made of silver flakes that can cure and conduct at room temperature. This is different from other 3D printing inks that need to cure at high temperatures (up to 100 degrees Celsius) and would burn skin.
To remove the electronics, the person can peel off the electronic device with tweezers or wash it off with water.
In addition to electronics, the new 3D printing technique paves the way for many other applications, including printing cells to help those with skin diseases. To this end, McAlpine’s team partnered with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Paediatrics doctor and medical school Dean Jakub Tolar. The team successfully used a bio-ink to print cells on a mouse skin wound, which could lead to advanced medical treatments.
“I’m fascinated by the idea of printing electronics or cells directly on the skin,” McAlpine said. “It is such a simple idea and has unlimited potential for important applications in the future.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=DTXqUrmr3FQ
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