Revolutionary 3D Printing Hack Accelerates Bioelectronics Development

A team at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Stockholm University, has innovatively adapted a 3D printer to expedite the development of bioelectronics, marking a significant leap forward in the field.

Ph.D. candidate Lee-Lun Lai demonstrated the technique by using a 3D microprinter to efficiently produce polymer transistors. This method stands out for its rapid, cost-effective, and eco-friendly production process, bypassing the need for conventional cleanroom environments and the use of harmful solvents and chemicals.

The research, spearheaded by Anna Herland, a professor of Micro- and Nanosystems at KTH, and Erica Zeglio, a faculty researcher associated with the Digital Futures research center, utilizes a standard Nanoscribe 3D microprinter. By hacking this printer, the team was able to laser print and micropattern key polymers used in semiconducting, conducting, and insulating layers without the environmental and financial burdens of traditional fabrication methods.

This breakthrough offers a streamlined pathway for the creation of electrochemical transistors vital to medical implants, wearable technology, and biosensors. It proposes a shift away from the slow, expensive, and environmentally damaging practices currently dominating the field.

Polymers, essential for a wide range of applications such as tissue monitoring and disease diagnosis, are now easier and faster to prototype, potentially accelerating the adoption of bioelectronic technologies. The team's use of ultrafast laser pulses opens new doors for quickly developing and scaling microscale bioelectronic devices.

Frank Niklaus, another co-author and professor at KTH, highlighted the method's versatility, suggesting it could also benefit the fabrication of other soft electronic devices. The researchers successfully applied this new approach to create complementary inverters and enzymatic glucose sensors, showcasing its potential to revolutionize bioelectronic research and reduce the time-to-market for new innovations.

Their findings, promising cheaper and more sustainable alternatives for device components, were published in the journal Advanced Science, underlining a significant stride towards more accessible and environmentally conscious bioelectronics manufacturing.