Designing with Printed Responsive Biomaterials: A Review

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Synthetic Biology
• Bioengineering
• Living Architecture

Background:

• Advancements in biomaterials science and manufacturing are enabling new interactions in everyday products and environments.
• Responsive biomaterials can interact with their surroundings via biological, chemical, or physical processes.
• These materials offer functionalities such as self-healing, diagnostics, and energy generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review additive manufacturing (AM) strategies for responsive biomaterials.
• To present a vision for integrating printed responsive biomaterials (PRBs) into everyday objects and buildings.
• To highlight the potential of PRBs for enhancing environmental and human health.

Main Methods:

• Review of AM strategies for biobased, environmentally interactive materials.
• Exploration of materials including biopolymer composites, electrochemical devices, and living cells.
• Analysis of genetically active, physical, and chemical interactive systems.

Main Results:

• Examples of AM for responsive biomaterials with diverse functionalities are presented.
• Materials reviewed include those utilizing biopolymer composites, active molecules, and living cells.
• The review covers systems with genetic activity and physical/chemical interactivity.

Conclusions:

• Printed responsive biomaterials (PRBs) offer significant potential for innovative applications.
• AM facilitates the creation of PRBs with desirable functionalities for daily use.
• The robustness and scalability of PRBs for terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications are evaluated.