4D Printing + Nanotechnology
Siladityaa Sharma
Rita Blaik
Nanotechnology+Design
4th Feb 2019
4D Printing and its contributions to the world of bionanotechnology
3D printing has seen so many types of applications that are probably impossible to keep a track of and now it’s being taken to another level by scientists to manipulate materials at the nano and micro scale. 4D printing, as its being called, deals with the inclusion of time which allows the material or product made from the 3D printer to modify or develop properties on the basis of external stimuli such as temperature, pH level, light, etc.
4D Printing is being heavily used in the field of bionanotechnology to ease the delivery of drugs, tissue repair, and engineering and monitor vital signs. The adaptive ability of the nanoscaled product allows us to venture further into the world of printing fully functional human organs.
Why print human organs?
Donation of organs sadly indicates that the person providing the organ is no more. Sometimes the patients have to wait for a very long time because they have to wait for an organ to be donated that matches their body requirements. If we are able to print these human organs with the help of 4D printing we will be able to provide a much more convenient and faster method of organ transplant and save a lot of lives.
The researchers at Ingenuity Labs tested their concept by 3D printing a leaf out of ink and hydrogel, made of natural proteins that can retain water and are compatible with human tissue.
The scientists at the lab were also able to create a meniscus for the knee. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped tissue in the knee which if torn can cause a lot of pain to the patient. The researchers were able to make a 3D printed meniscus that was able to adhere to the surrounding cells and function just like a regular meniscus.
“We would print it with a material that has the mechanical properties that can withstand the pressure of the bones, as well as have some factors that can promote cell adhesion, all while preventing the body’s immune system from rejecting the meniscus. But this is only phase one of many,” said Mathews.
Additional Elements
If the resulting 4D printed organ can be connected to a software-based platform then its performance can be monitored by the doctor and the patient to avoid any delays in the detection of severe complications in the body.
It will not only improve the chances of preventing serious deterioration of health but also educate the user about the new technology and how the organs work in their body. Sounds overwhelming for some but it could be fun to play with.
Works Cited
VCH Verlag, Wiley. “A Chart Describing 4D Printing and Materials.” Nanowerk, 31 Jan. 2019, www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/id52023.jpg.
TED. The Emergence of “4D Printing” | Skylar Tibbits. YouTube, YouTube, 4 Apr. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gMCZFHv9v8&t=365s.
Saunders, Sarah. “4D Printing Technique Could Be Used to Develop 3D Printed Human Organs for Transplant Patients.” 3DPrint.Com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing, 4 Dec. 2017, www.3dprint.com/196141/4d-printing-human-organs/.
Brown, Michael. “Chemical Engineering Researcher Anu Stella Mathews Holds a 4D Printed Leaf That Acts like a Hydrogen Fuel Cell When Submerged in Water and Exposed to Ultraviolet Light.” 3DPrint, 4 Dec. 2014, www.3dprint.com/196141/4d-printing-human-organs/.
O’Neal, Bridget Butler. “4D Printing on The Nanoscale — Northwestern’s IIN Receives $8.5 Million Grant.” 3DPrint.Com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing, 14 June 2015, www.3dprint.com/73150/iin-4d-printing-grant-from-dod/.
