BactoInk (technology of 3D printing of mineralized structures)

History

2023: Product Announcement

On February 23, 2023, Swiss scientists from the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL) announced the development of a method for 3D printing of mineralized structures similar to bone tissue.

The method involves using special polymeric biochernils containing bacteria which produce calcium carbonate when exposed to a urea solution. Within a few days, microorganisms naturally form a strong structure.

The mechanical properties of the ink give them the strength and shrinkage resistance required to repair a work of art

The material was called BactoInk. These 3D printing inks contain Sporosarcina pasteurii, a bacterium that, when exposed to urea, triggers the mineralization process, resulting in calcium carbonate (an inorganic chemical compound, a salt of carbonic acid and calcium). The technology has several potential applications ranging from art to biomedicine. For example, new generation bone implants may be manufactured by the method of the present invention. The mechanical properties of the ink give them the strength and shrinkage resistance needed to repair the artwork.

The process involves producing a durable biocomposite that can be manufactured using a standard 3D printer and natural materials without the extreme temperatures often required to produce ceramics. 3D-printed structures can be further disinfected by ethanol treatment: this ensures that bacteria do not enter the patient's body.

We came up with a simple trick: instead of printing minerals, we create a polymer framework using BactoInk ink, which then mineralizes. After about four days, the process started by the bacteria leads to the final product with a mineral content of more than 90%, "said Esther Amstad, who participated in the study.[1]

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