Fabricating Robust Constructs with Internal Phase Nanostructures via Liquid-in-Liquid 3D Printing.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Creating synthetic biomaterials that mimic living tissues requires precise control over architecture, nanostructures, and mechanical properties.
• Traditional 3D printing methods struggle with low-viscosity materials and achieving desired mechanical properties in the final constructs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel 3D printing approach for fabricating constructs with programmable nanostructures and tunable mechanical properties from low-viscosity materials.
• To enable the creation of advanced biomaterials for applications in regenerative medicine.

Main Methods:

• A liquid-in-liquid 3D printing technique was employed, extruding an aqueous solution of surfactant and photocurable polymer into a polar oil bath.
• In situ self-assembly of the surfactant at the liquid-liquid interface formed internal nanostructures during extrusion.
• Subsequent photopolymerization preserved these nanostructures, with properties confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated 3D constructs with internal nanostructures using the novel liquid-in-liquid approach.
• Demonstrated tunable mechanical properties of the photopolymerized prints by adjusting the aqueous solution composition.
• Confirmed the preservation of self-assembled nanostructures via small-angle X-ray scattering.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D printing method expands the utility of low-viscosity materials in additive manufacturing.
• This approach enables the production of robust constructs with controlled internal nanostructures and mechanical properties.
• The technique offers a promising platform for printing self-assembling biomaterials for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.