Team:Warwick/Modelling3
3D Printing Complex Structures using Secreting Cells
Once we had an idea of how we could create small shapes using cells we wanted a quick overview how larger objects could be made. This discusses the different possibilities of the creation of 3D structures and shapes in a general sense, using different forms of bio-printng.
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The Problem
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Fused Deposition Modelling
However the size of an E.coli cell is larger than the diameter of the smallest plastic filament possible, so the resulting structure may be less detailed, however if we developed a cell with a small enough radius this problem will be subverted.
The image to the left shows how FDM works in regards to plastic.
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Stereolithography
However it would require larger amount of E.coli cells to be held together without dying, a very large challenge to overcome. For this we would use E.coli which would secrete plastic once it is subjected to a certain wavelength of light which would be provided by the two lasers.
We also though of using a process similar to selective laser sintering, where a film of E.coli cells are spread onto a surface then a laser ‘draws’ the first layer. A second layer of cells is spread on top and the process is repeated. This process takes longer but could be used to make much larger structures.
