Methacrylated Bovine Serum Albumin and Tannic Acid Composite Materials for Three-Dimensional Printing Tough and Mechanically Functional Parts

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces 2022-05, Vol.14 (18), p.21418-21425
• Main Authors: Smith, Patrick T., Altin, Gokce, Millik, S. Cem, Narupai, Benjaporn, Sietz, Cameron, Park, James O., Nelson, Alshakim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applications of Polymer, Composite, and Coating Materials; Hydrogels - chemistry; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Serum Albumin, Bovine - chemistry; Tannins
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c01446

Nature uses proteins as building blocks to create three-dimensional (3D) structural components (like spiderwebs and tissue) that are recycled within a closed loop. Furthermore, it is difficult to replicate the mechanical properties of these 3D architectures within synthetic systems. In the absence of biological machinery, protein-based materials can be difficult to process and can have a limited range of mechanical properties. Herein, we present an additive manufacturing workflow to fabricate tough, protein-based composite hydrogels and bioplastics with a range of mechanical properties. Briefly, methacrylated bovine-serum-albumin-based aqueous resins were 3D-printed using a commercial vat photopolymerization system. The printed structures were then treated with tannic acid to introduce additional non-covalent interactions and form tough hydrogels. The hydrogel material could be sutured and withstand mechanical load, even after immersion in water for 24 h. Additionally, a denaturing thermal cure could be used to virtually eliminate rehydration of the material and form a bioplastic. To highlight the functionality of this material, a bioplastic screw was 3D-printed and driven into wood without damage to the screw. Moreover, the 3D-printed constructs enzymatically degraded up to 85% after 30 days in pepsin solution. Thus, these protein-based 3D-printed constructs show great potential for biomedical devices that degrade in situ.