Biomimetic Minerizable 3D-Printing Ink for Bone-Mimetic Hardening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3D printed calcium-based articles, used to mimic bone, teeth, shell, and nacre, require sintering to achieve sufficient hardness and crystallization, which is a limiting process.

Innovation Solution

A biomimetic minerizable 3D-printing ink comprising a calcium cation-based compound, such as metastable calcium carbonate or metastable calcium phosphate, a carrier material like gelatin or methylcellulose, and a crystallization trigger, specifically an oligopeptide from the HABP or P11-family, which controls the hardening process without the need for sintering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If sintering is used to achieve hardness and crystallization in 3D printed calcium-based articles, then sufficient hardness and crystallization are obtained, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehardnessVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical state parameters of calcium phosphate from amorphous to crystalline by controlling mineralization conditions. By adjusting pH, temperature, and adding mineralization agents during the 3D printing process, the material transitions from a soft amorphous state to a hard crystalline state without requiring separate sintering, thus reducing process complexity while achieving sufficient hardness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical sintering process with a chemical mineralization process. Instead of using heat and pressure to densify the material, the invention uses chemical reactions to induce crystallization of calcium phosphate, substituting a complex thermal-mechanical system with a simpler chemical system that achieves the same hardening effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Strength

If sintering is used to achieve hardness and crystallization in 3D printed calcium-based articles, then sufficient hardness and crystallization are obtained, but production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehardnessVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs mineralization action during the 3D printing process itself rather than as a subsequent step. By incorporating mineralization agents in the ink formulation and controlling the printing environment (pH, temperature), the crystallization process begins during deposition and continues while the structure is being built, eliminating the need for separate post-processing sintering steps and significantly reducing total production time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the mineralization process continuous throughout the 3D printing operation. The chemical reaction for calcium phosphate crystallization proceeds continuously as the material is deposited and cured, rather than requiring discrete stages of printing followed by sintering. This continuous action eliminates idle time between steps and accelerates overall production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of manufacture

If metastable calcium species are used without crystallization trigger, then the material remains soft and amorphous, but adding crystallization trigger enables controlled hardening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of hardeningVSAvoidcompositional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces crystallization triggers as intermediary substances that mediate the transition from amorphous to crystalline calcium phosphate. These triggers (such as specific ions or molecules) act as nucleation sites that promote ordered crystal formation without destabilizing the overall composition. The triggers enable controlled hardening by initiating crystallization at specific locations and times while maintaining the chemical integrity of the calcium phosphate matrix

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 ink enables the production of biomineralized 3D-printed articles with sufficient hardness, achieved through controlled crystallization triggered by the oligopeptide, eliminating the requirement for sintering.

Implementation Method 1

a crystallization trigger, specifically an oligopeptide from the HABP or P11-family, which controls the hardening process without the need for sintering

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCrystallization: Crystallisation

Implementation Method 2

biomineralized 3D-printed articles with sufficient hardness, achieved through controlled crystallization triggered by the oligopeptide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMineralization: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentUS20250043142A1In situ mineralization of 3D printed metastable calcium species

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 OMYA INT AG

AI summary

The present invention refers to a biomimetic minerizable 3D-printing ink, a method for the production of such a biomimetic minerizable 3D-printing ink, a method for the production of a biomineralized 3D-printed article, a biomineralized 3D-printed article as well as the use of a crystallization trigger which is an oligopeptide selected from the group comprising an oligopeptide of the HABP family and an oligopeptide of the P11-family for 3D printing.