A Versatile Photocrosslinkable Silicone Composite for 3D Printing Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Additive Manufacturing
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Embedded printing is crucial for advanced microfluidic devices and complex structures.
• Developing new printable materials is key to expanding embedded printing applications.
• Current materials often lack the necessary properties for versatile use in printing complex geometries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, transparent, printable, photocrosslinkable, and tuneable silicone composite.
• To demonstrate its utility as both a support bath and an extrudable ink for embedded 3D printing.
• To explore its potential in microfluidics, soft robotics, and tissue engineering.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a silicone composite with tuneable rheological properties (self-recovery, yield stress).
• Utilization as a support bath for creating microfluidic devices with sub-30 μm channels.
• Application as an extrudable ink for 3D printing constructs with integrated electronics.
• Biocompatibility testing with various cell types.

Main Results:

• The silicone composite exhibited tuneable properties suitable for 3D printing.
• Microfluidic devices with precise circular channels (up to 30 μm) were successfully fabricated using it as a support bath.
• Janus microrods were generated using flow-focusing microfluidic devices.
• Complex 3D constructs with integrated electronics were printed using the material as an ink.
• Demonstrated biocompatibility for potential tissue engineering applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed silicone composite is a versatile material for embedded printing.
• It enables the fabrication of intricate microfluidic devices and complex 3D structures.
• Its properties support applications in microfluidics, soft robotics, and bioprinting.
• This material provides a facile approach for creating advanced 3D constructs and interconnected channels.