Good day to our readers,

Yesterday, we announced the revamp of this newsletter. Hope that our readers like the new format. I would like to keep Image Of The Day as a recurring segment of this newsletter. I find that it makes the newsletter more visually appealing and provides a fun surprise for our readers with each edition. Enjoy reading and I’ll see you in the next edition.

In Brief

• Re-launch of this newsletter under a new format

• Deep-dive into 4D printing with polymers (with link)

Research Updates

Multimaterial 3D printing of self-assembling smart thermo-responsive polymers into 4D hierarchical mesostructured architectures: A review

Where 3D printing or additive manufacturing has become a buzzword of the past, these researchers have coined a new term - 4D printing. This is like printing 3D structures but the ink printed out can change its properties over time. Thus, they claim that the fourth-D is time. It is an interesting concept that overcomes some of the monotone limitations in ink. I think of it this way - we could make a two-part ink packet where we first print a precursor ink that is stable for some time, then quickly switch inks to ink 2 that will react and solidify ink 1. I guess it’d behave like an epoxy mix! Here are some key points from the article:

• Thermoresponsive polymers (TRPs) show promise in additive manufacturing for 3D/4D printing of functional and architected materials with engineered micro- and nanoscale features.

• Understanding TRP phenomena can enable the design of new feedstocks and their compatibility with fabrication processes.

• TRPs have broad application prospects in additive manufacturing, from biosensors to biofabrication, biomedical, biotechnology, and food applications.

• Thermo-sensitive materials act as a game changer in 3D printing usages because of their particular properties in bio-separation, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and theragnostic particles.

• The combination of excellent properties of thermo-sensitive polymers with 3D printing technology can produce custom-designed 3D printed architectures with an unprecedented level of functional integration.

• TRPs can be utilized as a delivery carrier for targeted drug delivery and as injectable scaffolds for tissue regeneration.

• The integration of smart materials with 3D printing can revolutionize different sectors, leading to the development of innovative smart devices.

• To effectively use 4D printing in practical applications, constant development should be performed to overcome present challenges.

Image Of The Day

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