The technology could help soldiers on the battlefield or people with skin conditions.
American researchers at the University of Minnesota have pioneered the use of 3D printed electronics on human skin. In their groundbreaking study, published in the journal Advanced Materials, the team used a low-cost, portable 3D printer to create functional electronic components directly on a human hand.
In order for the device to print onto the surface, the scientists installed several cameras on it and used a 3D scanner to create a three-dimensional model of the object. The researchers also developed a special printing material - silver flake ink, which is both "viscous, electrically conductive and can be used without too much heat."
The operation of the printer on human skin was shown using the example of a simple LED with a circuit. It can receive energy inductively from an external source. First, a board with an LED was placed on the subject's hand, and markers for the scanner and cameras were installed around it. After completing the scan, the device printed the conductive paths on the arm. The researchers emphasized that once the electronics on the skin have completed their task, they can be easily removed with tweezers or washed off with water.
“We are thrilled with the success of this new 3D printing technology using a portable and lightweight printer under $ 400. We speculate that in the future, a soldier could pull this printer out of his backpack and print the chemical sensor or other electronics he needs right on his skin. It would be like the “Swiss Army Knife of the Future” with everything you need in one portable 3D printing tool,”said Michael McAlpin, lead author of the study and professor at the University of Minnesota.
To investigate further applications of 3D printing on skin, the team collaborated with the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and Professor Dean Yakub Tolar, who is a renowned specialist in the treatment of rare skin conditions. Together, they used a special bio-ink for 3D printed organic cells to speed up the healing process of skin wounds in mice. In the future, the development may lead to new medical therapies to improve wound healing and direct 3D printing of skin grafts for people with severe skin conditions.
“I am fascinated by the idea of printing electronics or cells directly onto the skin. It's such a simple undertaking, but it has unlimited potential for important changes in the future,”concluded McAplin.
GRIGORY PUSHKAREV
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