Biomolecular Glass: A Game-Changer for Sustainable Manufacturing and Biocompatible Materials

Know the amazing potential of biomolecular glass and see how it could impact our lives.

Photo by physics.stackexchange.com

In my previous article, we explored the incredible science behind the making process of biomolecular glass — a groundbreaking material crafted from the building blocks of life.

Biomolecular glass is bio-safe, bio-compatible, bio-degradable, and bio-recyclable.

But how will it actually impact our lives?

Let’s explore its incredible potential in this article because the possibilities are nothing short of revolutionary!

Shaping the Future of Manufacturing

1. Versatile Processing:

This revolutionary material can take glassmaking to a whole new level with its incredible versatility.

It integrates seamlessly with both 3D printing and mold casting techniques.

This opens up a whole new world of possibilities, allowing us to create intricate designs and complex shapes that were simply unimaginable before.

2. Precision:

Biomolecular glass isn’t just versatile; it’s also incredibly precise.

Unlike traditional glass, which can be tricky to work with, biomolecular glass allows for precise shaping and structuring.

Imagine creating highly detailed objects, like tiny working heart valves for medical use, with incredible accuracy.

Now think about the possibilities of Biomolecular glasses in fields like microfluidics (manipulating tiny amounts of liquids), photonics (using light for various applications), and even bioprinting (3D printing living tissues)!

The possibilities are endless!

Material Properties

1. Amorphous Nature:

X-ray diffraction patterns of 3D-printed biomolecular glasses showed broad bands without well-defined diffraction peaks, indicating an amorphous nature of the biomolecular glass.

The absence of a crystalline structure leads to exceptional optical clarity and transparency, making the glass perfect for lenses, optical fibers, and electronic displays.

2. Flexibility:

Biomolecular glasses are a dream come true for shaping and molding.

Unlike traditional glasses, which are notoriously difficult to work with due to high softening points and crystallization tendencies, biomolecular glasses allow for effortless shaping without distortion.

This translates to easier processing and better control over the final product.

These glasses demonstrated a broad linear viscoelastic region of the supercooled liquid, providing accurate time windows for additive manufacturing.

3. Viscosity and Temperature Behavior:

The biomolecular glass supercooled liquid indicates a stable viscosity-temperature behavior, which is advantageous for applications needing thermal stability, such as thermal insulators and heat-resistant coatings.

Shining Bright with Exceptional Optical Properties

1. High Transmittance:

Biomolecular glasses exhibit excellent optical performance, with transmittance up to approximately 90% in the UV-visible (200 to 800 nm) and NIR (800 to 3000 nm) regions.

This surpasses the average performance of commercial lighting glass (around 80%), making it ideal for applications demanding superior light transmission.

2. Fluorescence:

Biomolecular glasses can be customized to create a spectrum of colored glasses with diverse fluorescence.

This is achieved by incorporating carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and dyes into the viscous liquids of the biomolecules.

These glasses maintained high optical transmittance and showed no significant quenching or shift of organic fluorophores.

Intriguing, right? But that’s not all, there is much more.

Bio-Quadfecta: Compatible, Safe, Degradable, and Recyclable

Biomolecular glass scores big on four key factors: compatibility, safety, degradability, and sustainability.

1. Safe and Sound for Living Things (Bio-Safety):

Tests showed that when biomolecular glass beads were implanted in mice these mice experienced no major problems, proving the material is safe for living organisms.

That’s bio-safety in action!

These glasses break down naturally within the body, with certain drugs potentially affecting the speed of this process of course!

2. Friendly on the Inside and Out (Bio-compatibility):

Biomolecular glass isn’t just safe, it also plays well with others — especially living things.

That’s bio-compatibility!

Studies have shown that enzymes in our bodies can actually target and break down these glasses, highlighting their biocompatible nature.

3. From Glass to Grass (Bio-degradability):

Forget glass taking forever to break down! Biomolecular glass is built for a greener future.

These glasses can decompose naturally, just like leaves in a compost pile (Bio-degradability).

They’re even good candidates for becoming sustainable energy sources in landfills!

4. Made from Nature’s Building Blocks (Bio-recyclable):

Biomolecular glass is kind to the environment from the get-go.

A prime feature called sustainability!

The main ingredients, amino acids and peptides — the building blocks of life themselves, are naturally occurring and degradable.

Even the synthetic protective groups like Fmoc and Cbz, used in the creation process of bio-glass can be managed and utilized sustainably, such as Fmoc-protected glycine for corrosion inhibition and Cbz-protected tyrosine as an energy supplement.

Biomolecular glass is a truly eco-friendly recyclable material.

Key Findings of the Research

The study was published in Science Advances in March 2023.

1. Biodegradation in Vitro:

• Proteinase K Solution: Ac-F and Cbz-FFG glass beads, with diameters of 0.3 cm, were almost completely degraded after one week and five months of incubation, respectively.
• Simulated Gastric and Intestinal Fluids (SGF and SIF): Ac-F glass beads rapidly degraded, showing significant size reduction after 4 hours and becoming invisible after 2 days. Cbz-FFG glass took approximately 5 months to degrade.
• Enzyme-Specific Degradation: Cbz-FFG glass degradation was further analyzed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). It showed degradation into several substructures upon cleavage of amide links and Cbz-modifier groups, producing Cbz-F, Cbz-FF, F, FF, and FG.
• Non-Solubility in Water: Cbz-FFG glass did not degrade in water, indicating biodegradation in enzyme solutions rather than dissolution.

2. Biodegradation in Vivo:

• Implantation in Mice: Cbz-FFG glass beads, and Cbz-FFG-CA glass beads encapsulating cyclosporin A (CA), were implanted subcutaneously in mice. The mice showed no pain-related behavior or significant weight loss, indicating good biocompatibility.
• Degradation Time: Cbz-FFG glass beads softened within 2 days and were completely degraded and absorbed by the 12th day. The presence of CA prolonged the degradation time, extending it to about 1 month.
• Immune Response: The CA released from Cbz-FFG-CA glass beads suppressed immune responses, reducing inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI) and muscle fiber atrophy compared to the Cbz-FFG glass group.

3. Composting:

• Ac-F Glass: Decomposed within 3 weeks in soil compost facilities.
• Cbz-FFG Glass: Disintegrated after 7.5 months in compost.

4. Histological Analysis:

• Initial Tissue Damage: Inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI) and cuticle thickening were observed initially due to surgical tissue damage.
• Recovery: By the 12th day, ICI was significantly reduced, particularly in the Cbz-FFG-CA group, due to the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects of CA. By the 30th day, muscle tissue structure appeared normal, with ordered muscle fibers and no obvious ICI.

The Future is Bright (and Biodegradable!)

Biomolecular glass is a revolutionary material with the potential to change the way we manufacture products, create medical devices, and interact with the world around us.

Its unique combination of strength, flexibility, biodegradability, and safety makes it a game-changer for a more sustainable future.

As scientists continue to explore the possibilities of biomolecular glass, we can only imagine what amazing things will be created next!