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Biomimicry and 3D Printing of Living Materials: 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetic Design, Constructions and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 December 2023) | Viewed by 9012

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Baiheng Wu

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Guest Editor

College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
Interests: engineered living materials based on 3D printing and microfluidics; biomimetic chemistry and bioinspired functional materials; interfacial self-assembly of polymers and nanoparticles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Living cells are super factories to synthesize complex molecules and may act as building blocks to further assemble into living materials with delicate structure and extraordinary performance, which is especially characterized by their dynamic adaptability and smart responsiveness to external stimuli. Inspired by nature and powered by additive manufacturing techniques, the field of living materials has thrived in recent years and has drawn much attention from a broad audience.

This Special Issue aims to collect recent advances in biomimicry and the 3D printing of living materials from an interdisciplinary community. To further its aims by providing an updated view of both basic and applied research, this Special Issue is divided into two main parts:

Part a) Biomimetic conceptions of living materials, mainly covering topics such as the design of the biological and chemical composition of living materials; the interactions between microorganisms and the matrix; the structural features of living materials and the structure–function relationship; and the manufacturing using 3D printing.

Part b) Engineering living materials for applications, including wearable biosensors, biocatalysts, bioremediation, drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and other biomedical applications.

We believe that this initiative will fill an important gap in living materials and stimulate the enthusiastic contributions of leading experts in the field.

Dr. Baiheng Wu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

living material
biomimicry
additive manufacturing
3D Printing
microorganisms
biosensors
biocatalysts
bioremediation
drug delivery
tissue engineering

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Thermodynamic Properties of Poly Lactic Acid by Inverse Gas Chromatography

by Tayssir Hamieh

Biomimetics 2024, 9(5), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9050268 - 28 Apr 2024

Viewed by 288

Abstract

Poly lactic acid (PLA) is one of the most commonly used bio-derived thermoplastic polymers in 3D and 4D printing applications. The determination of PLA surface properties is of capital importance in 3D/4D printing technology. The surface thermodynamic properties of PLA polymers were determined using the inverse gas chromatography (IGC) technique at infinite dilution. The determination of the retention volume of polar and non-polar molecules adsorbed on the PLA particles filling the column allowed us to obtain the dispersive, polar, and Lewis’s acid–base surface properties at different temperatures from 40 °C to 100 °C. The applied surface method was based on our recent model that used the London dispersion equation, the new chromatographic parameter function of the deformation polarizability, and the harmonic mean of the ionization energies of the PLA polymer and organic molecules. The application of this new method led to the determination of the dispersive and polar free surface energy of the adsorption of molecules on the polymeric material, as well as the glass transition and the Lewis acid–base constants. Four interval temperatures were distinguished, showing four zones of variations in the surface properties of PLA as a function of the temperature before and after the glass transition. The acid–base parameters of PLA strongly depend on the temperature. The accurate determination of the dispersive and polar surface physicochemical properties of PLA led to the work of adhesion of the polar organic solvents adsorbed on PLA. These results can be very useful for achieving reliable and functional 3D and 4D printed components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimicry and 3D Printing of Living Materials: 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 4286 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Knee Measurement System with Osteoarthritis Levels Using Artificial Cartilage and Skeletons

by Minchae Kang, Suyeon Seo, Hyewon Lee and Min-Woo Han

Biomimetics 2024, 9(3), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9030166 - 8 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 913

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative arthritis, is a disease characterized by irreversible changes in the cartilage and bones comprising the joints, resulting in pain, impaired function, and deformity. Furthermore, independent of natural aging, the rate of change in joint cartilage has increased in recent years, which is mainly attributed to environmental factors. The rising incidence of knee-related disorders emphasizes the importance of analyzing the morphology and kinematics of knee structure. This study introduces a knee measurement system designed to replicate the motions of knee using 3D-printing technology, providing insights into knee mechanics with OA level. The research explores the stages of OA using the Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade scale, highlighting the variations in the force applied to the knee bone according to movement. The developed knee-simulation system, utilizing the four-bar-link theory, presents a novel approach to studying OA levels 0 to 4. As OA progresses, the cartilage deteriorates, affecting the movement of OA. The OA-based knee measurement system that incorporates soft tissues and skeletons can assist in developing a personalized diagnostic approach for knee disease. This will also help to enhance surgical effectiveness by facilitating the creation of personalized prosthetic joints for individual patients and offering a customized surgical simulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimicry and 3D Printing of Living Materials: 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 8310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of 3D Micro–Nanostructured Diatom Biosilica Coated by Epitaxially Growing Ag-AgCl Hybrid Nanoparticles

by Zhanar Bekissanova, Viorica Railean, Izabela Wojtczak, Weronika Brzozowska, Grzegorz Trykowski, Alyiya Ospanova and Myroslav Sprynskyy

Biomimetics 2024, 9(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9010005 - 23 Dec 2023

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Abstract

The 3D (three-dimensional) micro–nanostructured diatom biosilica obtained from cultivated diatoms was used as a support to immobilize epitaxially growing AgCl-Ag hybrid nanoparticles ((Ag-AgCl)NPs) for the synthesis of nanocomposites with antimicrobial properties. The prepared composites that contained epitaxially grown (Ag-AgCl)NPs were investigated in terms of their morphological and structural characteristics, elemental and mineral composition, crystalline forms, zeta potential, and photoluminescence properties using a variety of instrumental methods including SEM (scanning electron microscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), EDX (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray powder diffraction), zeta-potential measurement, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The content of (AgCl-Ag)NPs in the hybrid composites amounted to 4.6 mg/g and 8.4 mg/g with AgClNPs/AgNPs ratios as a percentage of 86/14 and 51/49, respectively. Hybrid nanoparticles were evenly dispersed with a dominant size of 5 to 25 nm in composite with an amount of 8.4 mg/g of silver. The average size of the nanoparticles was 7.5 nm; also, there were nanoparticles with a size of 1–2 nm and particles that were 20–40 nm. The synthesis of (Ag-AgCl)NPs and their potential mechanism were studied. The MIC (the minimum inhibitory concentration method) approach was used to investigate the antimicrobial activity against microorganisms Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The nanocomposites containing (Ag-AgCl)NPs and natural diatom biosilica showed resistance to bacterial strains from the American Type Cultures Collection and clinical isolates (diabetic foot infection and wound isolates). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimicry and 3D Printing of Living Materials: 2nd Edition)

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32 pages, 6527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biowelding 3D-Printed Biodigital Brick of Seashell-Based Biocomposite by Pleurotus ostreatus Mycelium

by Yomna K. Abdallah and Alberto T. Estévez

Biomimetics 2023, 8(6), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8060504 - 23 Oct 2023

Viewed by 4487

Abstract

Mycelium biocomposites are eco-friendly, cheap, easy to produce, and have competitive mechanical properties. However, their integration in the built environment as durable and long-lasting materials is not solved yet. Similarly, biocomposites from recycled food waste such as seashells have been gaining increasing interest recently, thanks to their sustainable impact and richness in calcium carbonate and chitin. The current study tests the mycelium binding effect to bioweld a seashell biocomposite 3D-printed brick. The novelty of this study is the combination of mycelium and a non-agro–based substrate, which is seashells. As well as testing the binding capacity of mycelium in welding the lattice curvilinear form of the V3 linear Brick model (V3-LBM). Thus, the V3-LBM is 3D printed in three separate profiles, each composed of five layers of 1 mm/layer thickness, using seashell biocomposite by paste extrusion and testing it for biowelding with Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium to offer a sustainable, ecofriendly, biomineralized brick. The biowelding process investigated the penetration and binding capacity of the mycelium between every two 3D-printed profiles. A cellulose-based culture medium was used to catalyse the mycelium growth. The mycelium biowelding capacity was investigated by SEM microscopy and EDX chemical analysis of three samples from the side corner (S), middle (M), and lateral (L) zones of the biowelded brick. The results revealed that the best biowelding effect was recorded at the corner and lateral zones of the brick. The SEM images exhibited the penetration and the bridging effect achieved by the dense mycelium. The EDX revealed the high concentrations of carbon, oxygen, and calcium at all the analyzed points on the SEM images from all three samples. An inverted relationship between carbon and oxygen as well as sodium and potassium concentrations were also detected, implying the active metabolic interaction between the fungal hyphae and the seashell-based biocomposite. Finally, the results of the SEM-EDX analysis were applied to design favorable tessellation and staking methods for the V3-LBM from the seashell–mycelium composite to deliver enhanced biowelding effect along the Z axis and the XY axis with <1 mm tessellation and staking tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimicry and 3D Printing of Living Materials: 2nd Edition)

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Review

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28 pages, 2108 KiB

Open AccessReview

Towards Precision Ophthalmology: The Role of 3D Printing and Bioprinting in Oculoplastic Surgery, Retinal, Corneal, and Glaucoma Treatment

by Kevin Y. Wu, Adrian Tabari, Éric Mazerolle and Simon D. Tran

Biomimetics 2024, 9(3), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9030145 - 27 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1647

Abstract

In the forefront of ophthalmic innovation, biomimetic 3D printing and bioprinting technologies are redefining patient-specific therapeutic strategies. This critical review systematically evaluates their application spectrum, spanning oculoplastic reconstruction, retinal tissue engineering, corneal transplantation, and targeted glaucoma treatments. It highlights the intricacies of these technologies, including the fundamental principles, advanced materials, and bioinks that facilitate the replication of ocular tissue architecture. The synthesis of primary studies from 2014 to 2023 provides a rigorous analysis of their evolution and current clinical implications. This review is unique in its holistic approach, juxtaposing the scientific underpinnings with clinical realities, thereby delineating the advantages over conventional modalities, and identifying translational barriers. It elucidates persistent knowledge deficits and outlines future research directions. It ultimately accentuates the imperative for multidisciplinary collaboration to enhance the clinical integration of these biotechnologies, culminating in a paradigm shift towards individualized ophthalmic care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimicry and 3D Printing of Living Materials: 2nd Edition)

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