3D Printing of Silk Protein Structures by Aqueous Solvent‐Directed Molecular Assembly
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Hierarchical molecular assembly is a fundamental strategy for manufacturing protein structures in nature. However, to translate this natural strategy into advanced digital manufacturing like three-dimensional (3D) printing remains a technical challenge. This work presents a 3D printing technique with silk fibroin to address this challenge, by rationally designing an aqueous salt bath capable of directing the hierarchical assembly of the protein molecules. This technique, conducted under aqueous and ambient conditions, results in 3D proteinaceous architectures characterized by intrinsic biocompatibility/biodegradability and robust mechanical features. The versatility of this method is shown in a diversity of 3D shapes and a range of functional components integrated into the 3D prints. The manufacturing capability is exemplified by the single-step construction of perfusable microfluidic chips which eliminates the use of supporting or sacrificial materials. The 3D shaping capability of the protein material can benefit a multitude of biomedical devices, from drug delivery to surgical implants to tissue scaffolds. This work also provides insights into the recapitulation of solvent-directed hierarchical molecular assembly for artificial manufacturing.
Source: Macromolecular Bioscience
Institutions: Tufts University, ShanghaiTech University, University of Pavia
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Science Foundation, Harvard University, National Institutes of Health, Office of Naval Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Awards: G3170500465, Functional three dimensional brain-like tissues to study mechanisms of traumatic brain injury, Craniofacial Tissue Engineering, In vitro bioreactor system for platelet formation, Models to Predict Protein Biomaterial Performance, Biocomponent Devices: Developing Actuators from Insect Muscles, Degradable orthopedic hardware, G8722352637, Tissue Engineering Resource Center, Tissue Engineering Resource Center
OpenAlex ID: W2969729263