Nanoscale Cellulose For 3D Printing, Artificial Ear And Other Medical Implant Materials

Recently, the German Federal materials testing and Research Institute (Empa) made use of lignocellulosic materials and 3D printing technology to make artificial ears for pplantation. It can be used as a graft for children with congenital deformity of the auricle.

According to researcher Michael Hausmann, the raw material for making artificial ears is biodegradable wood cellulose.

With the aid of bio plotter, the sticky nanoscale cellulose can perfectly shape complex structures, and the structure after solidification is still very stable.

They studied the characteristics of nano cellulose hydrogel, and further optimized the stability and 3D printing process, and made artificial ears which can be used for pplantation.

This artificial ear can reconstruct the auricle for children with congenital deformity of the auricle, so that the abnormal ears can be remedied and will not affect hearing.

Artificial ears are only an application of this research.

Hydrogels containing nanoscale cellulose can also be used as knee implants to repair joint wear caused by chronic arthritis.

Houseman said the next goal is to use bone to fill the body's own cells and active ingredients to make biomedical implants.

Once implanted into the body, some materials may become biodegradable and dissolve in the body over time.

Although nanofibers do not degrade themselves, they are still very suitable for biocompatibility as scaffolds for implants.

In addition, nanofibers are selected as candidate materials, and because of their mechanical properties, tiny but stable fibers can absorb tensile force very well.

Moreover, nanoscale cellulose allows the function to be incorporated into the viscous hydrogels through different chemical modifications.

The complex shape products can be obtained through the interaction of structure, mechanical properties and nanofibers with their environment.

Houseman said the significance of the study is that cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on earth, and the use of crystalline cellulose is simple and inexpensive.