New Bioactive Ink for 3D Printing Combines Precision, Cell Adhesion, and Antibacterial Activity

A new study from the research group of Prof. Lihi Adler-Abramovich at the School of Dental Medicine, Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University, presents a new bioactive ink for 3D printing that combines high printing precision with enhanced cell adhesion and antibacterial activity.

The study was led by Mor Tsuriano-Zernichov and Francesca Netti, with the participation of Dr. Moran Aviv and Dr. Sigal Rencus-Lazar.

One of the key challenges in developing inks for bioprinting is balancing properties that can compete with one another. The material must have the mechanical and rheological properties required for precise printing and preservation of a three-dimensional structure, while also providing an environment that supports optimal interactions with cells.

The researchers addressed this challenge by developing an ink that combines high printability with inherent biological activity. The material enables the precise fabrication of three-dimensional structures while promoting enhanced cell adhesion. It also demonstrates antibacterial activity, an important property for materials intended to come into contact with biological tissues.

The combination of precise printing, enhanced cell adhesion, and antibacterial activity demonstrates how a material can serve not only as an ink for constructing a structure, but also as a means of introducing biological functionality into the printed construct.

The researchers suggest that this approach could open new possibilities for designing multifunctional materials for 3D printing, particularly for the development of advanced scaffolds and structures for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The study was published in Advanced Functional Materials.

Read the full article > https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.77631