Biocompatible 3D Printing Inks via Curable Oligomer Formulations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D printing inks often exhibit poor biocompatibility and high cytotoxicity, making them unsuitable for applications involving biological tissues or consumer products.
Innovation Solution
Development of inks comprising 10-60 wt.% oligomeric curable material, 30-80 wt.% monomeric curable material, and 10-35 wt.% self-curable light-sensitive oligomer, with minimal non-curable photoinitiator, along with additives like colorants, inhibitors, and stabilizing agents, to create biocompatible and low-cytotoxic 3D printing materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional 3D printing inks are used, then printing functionality is achieved, but biocompatibility is poor and cytotoxicity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by using curable materials (monomers and oligomers) with specific functional groups that, when cured, eliminate cytotoxicity while maintaining printability. The ink formulation includes monomeric curable material (30-80 wt%) and oligomeric curable material (10-60 wt%) that can be cured to form biocompatible structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink system combining multiple curable materials (monomers and oligomers) with complementary properties. The monomeric curable material provides reactivity and cure speed, while the oligomeric curable material contributes to mechanical properties and biocompatibility, achieving a balance between printability and biological safety.
2Reliability
If curable materials are used to improve biocompatibility, then mechanical strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite system of monomeric and oligomeric curable materials where the oligomeric component (10-60 wt%) provides mechanical strength through its polymer chain structure, while the monomeric component (30-80 wt%) ensures adequate reactivity and cure completeness, together achieving both mechanical performance and biocompatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent assigns different functional roles to different components: monomeric curable material primarily provides cure reactivity and crosslinking, while oligomeric curable material primarily provides mechanical properties and biocompatibility. This functional differentiation allows each component to optimize its contribution without compromising the other.
3Reliability
If ink composition is optimized for biocompatibility, then printability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully selects and balances the molecular weight, functional group density, and viscosity parameters of the curable materials to achieve an optimal ink formulation that satisfies both biocompatibility requirements and printability constraints for jetting or extrusion-based 3D printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures the ink composition is homogeneous and well-mixed, with the monomeric and oligomeric curable materials compatible at the molecular level, preventing phase separation or aggregation that would compromise either printability or biocompatibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The inks provide high biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and desirable mechanical and thermal properties, such as high mechanical strength and heat resistance, suitable for biomedical and consumer applications.
Implementation Method 1
self-curable light-sensitive oligomer
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, inks for use with a three-dimensional printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, an ink described herein comprises 10- 60 wt. % oligomeric curable material; 30-80 wt. % monomeric curable material; and 10-35 wt. % self-curable light-sensitive oligomer, based on the total weight of the ink. Moreover, in some cases, the ink is free or substantially free of non-curable photoinitiator. For example, in some instances, the ink further comprises less than 0.1 wt. % or less than 0.05 wt. % non-curable photoinitiator, based on the total weight of the ink.