3D Printing Functional Materials & Devices forBiomanufacturing

The development of methods for interfacing high-performance
functional devices with biology could impact regenerative
medicine, smart prosthetics, and human-machine interfaces.
Indeed, the ability to three-dimensionally interweave biological
and functional materials could enable the creation of devices
possessing unique geometries, properties, and functionalities.
Yet, most high-quality functional materials are two-dimensional,
hard and brittle, and require high crystallization temperatures
for maximal performance. These properties render the
corresponding devices incompatible with biology, which is
three-dimensional, soft, stretchable, and temperature sensitive.
We overcome these dichotomies by: 1) using 3D printing and
scanning for customized, interwoven, anatomically accurate
device architectures; 2) employing nanotechnology as an
enabling route for overcoming mechanical discrepancies while
retaining high performance; and 3) 3D printing a range of soft
and nanoscale materials to enable the integration of a diverse
palette of high-quality functional nanomaterials with biology.
3D printing is a multi-scale platform, allowing for the incorporation
of functional nanoscale inks, the printing of microscale
features, and ultimately the creation of macroscale devices. This
three-dimensional blending of functional materials and ‘living’
platforms may enable next-generation 3D-printed devices.