Researchers at the University of Oregon have pioneered a 3D printing technique that incorporates fluorescent molecules, resulting in glowing structures that could revolutionize biomedical implants. This advancement makes it easier to track and monitor implants inside the body, distinguishing them from surrounding tissue and cells over time.
The innovation is the result of a collaboration between Paul Dalton’s engineering lab and Ramesh Jasti’s chemistry lab of University of Oregon. The team’s technique, called melt electrowriting, allows for the creation of finely detailed 3D printed mesh scaffolds, which could be used for wound healing, artificial blood vessels, and nerve regeneration. By adding Jasti’s lab’s nanohoops—carbon-based molecules that fluoresce under UV light—the researchers achieved glowing scaffolds without compromising material stability or safety.
The discovery opens doors for applications in both biomedical and security fields, and the team has filed for a patent, with hopes of commercializing the technology in the future.
This advancement enables the tracking and monitoring of implants within the body, distinguishing them from surrounding tissue and cells as time passes. It is the result of a collaboration between the engineering lab of Paul Dalton and the chemistry lab of Ramesh Jasti at the University of Oregon.
The Method Developed by University of Oregon
Their technique, known as melt electrowriting, allows for the creation of intricate 3D printed mesh scaffolds, which have potential applications in wound healing, artificial blood vessels, and nerve regeneration. The researchers successfully incorporated nanohoops from Jasti’s lab—carbon-based molecules that fluoresce under UV light—into the scaffolds, resulting in glowing structures that maintain material stability and safety. This discovery has wide-ranging possibilities in the fields of biomedicine and security, and the team has applied for a patent with the intention of commercializing the technology in the future.
This advancement has the potential to revolutionize the field of implant tracking and monitoring in the human body. The collaboration between Paul Dalton’s engineering lab and Ramesh Jasti’s chemistry lab has resulted in a groundbreaking technique called melt electrowriting.
This technique allows for the creation of highly detailed 3D printed mesh scaffolds that can be utilized in various medical applications such as wound healing, artificial blood vessels, and nerve regeneration. By incorporating Jasti’s lab’s nanohoops, which emit fluorescence under UV light, the researchers have successfully developed scaffolds that exhibit a glowing effect while maintaining material stability and safety. The team has already taken steps to protect their innovation by filing for a patent, with the ultimate goal of bringing this technology to market in the near future.
