Sunflower pollen makes viable 3D bioprinting ink

Developed by scientists at NTU Singapore, the pollen-derived ink is reportedly able to hold its shape when deposited onto a surface, making it a viable alternative to current inks used for bioprinting. Such inks are usually soft and delicate, making it a challenge to retain the final product’s desired 3D shape and structure as the bioprinter deposits the ink in layers. The team’s results are described in Advanced Functional Materials.

In a statement, co-lead author Professor Cho Nam-Joon of the NTU School of Materials Sciences and Engineering said: “Through tuning the mechanical properties of sunflower pollen, we developed a pollen-based hybrid ink that can be used to print structures with good structural integrity. Utilising pollen for 3D printing is a significant achievement as the process of making the pollen-based ink is sustainable and affordable. Given that there are numerous types of pollen species with distinct sizes, shapes, and surface properties, pollen microgel suspensions could potentially be used to create a new class of eco-friendly 3D printing materials.”