This mini T-shirt demonstrates the real-world applications of algae. Researchers have used 3D printers and a new bioprinting technique on algae to create tough, resilient living materials. This is the first time an engineered photosynthetic material has been physically robust enough for real-world applications. The material is biodegradable and focused on the sustainable production of energy. As well as applications in the textile industry, this new form of printed algae could be used in medicine to help wounds heal faster. For the first time, researchers have used 3D printers and a new bioprinting technique to print algae into tough, resilient living, photosynthetic materials. As the researchers report in the journal Advanced Functional Materials , the material has a variety of applications in the energy, medical, and fashion sectors. Living materials, which are made by housing biological cells within a nonliving matrix, have gained popularity in recent years as scientists recognize that the most robust materials are often those that mimic nature. “Three-dimensional printing has shown to be an effective technology for fabricating living materials that have many environmental and other benefits,” says Anne S. Meyer, an associate professor of biology at the University of Rochester. “Our photosynthetic living materials […]
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