4D-Biogel · 3D and 4D Bioprinting: Additive Manufacturing of Smart Biodegradable Hydrogels
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2019-06-01 → 2022-05-31
- EU contribution
- €263,732
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-GF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
3D and 4D Bioprinting: Additive Manufacturing of Smart Biodegradable Hydrogels
Bio-based plastics that can supplant petroleum-derived materials are necessary to meet the future demands of sustainability in the life cycle of plastic materials. Furthermore, the association of biosourced and biodegradable polymers with additive manufacturing could enable the fabrication of objects that can be recycled back into feedstock or degraded into nontoxic products after they have served their function. In this context, 4D-BIOGEL is a European funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action that aims to create biodegradable plastics from sustainable sources for 4D printing, so that a 3D printed construct can undergo spatiotemporal changes (with time as the 4th dimension) in response to an external stimulus, as in plants (e.g., Mimosa and Venus flytraps). The fundamental knowledge generated by 4D-BIOGEL will help to make a “greener” additive manufacturing based on the use of renewable feedstock, as well as pathways for innovative shape transformations inspired by nature.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The controlled behaviour of biological systems in response to external stimuli is ubiquitous in nature and perceived as a key requirement for the development of advanced functional materials. A good example found in nature is the so-called “sensitive plant” (Mimosa) that responds to touch by rapidly closing its leaves, as a defense mechanisms against herbivores. This quick response to touch is due to rapid water release from specialized cells located at the leaves. In attempt to mimic nature, 4D-BIOGEL project aims to combine new fully biodegradable water-filled hydrogels with additive manufacturing or 3D printing to design smart materials that can undergo a temporal change in their shape under the influence of an external stimulus, giving a 4th dimension to the previously designed 3D object. Light-sensitive structures activated by near-infrared (NIR) are especially appealing, since light can be conveniently pinpointed to the location of interest with the maximum depth of penetration and the minimum damage of tissues. To obtain NIR-sensitive hydrogels, nanoparticles capable of converting light into heat will be incorporated into the hydrogel matrix to afford small volume contraction-expansion changes on demand. This advanced technology offers great potential for the creation of sophisticated dynamic structures with high resolution that could find application not only in regenerative medicine or drug-delivery, but also in robotics or bioelectronics. The 24-month outgoing phase will take place at the University of Washington in Seattle, under the supervision of Dr. Alshakim Nelson - one of the top-class researchers in 3D and 4D printing of hydrogels. The final goal is that during the third year of the fellowship, under the guidance of Dr. Haritz Sardon at the University of the Basque Country in Spain (BERC-POLYMAT), Dr. Eva Sanchez can translate all the expertise acquired about the innovative fields of 3D and 4D bioprinting to Europe, where there is a clear need.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA · LeioaCoordinatorSpain
- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · Seattle WaUnited States
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union