Biomimetic 3D/4D Printing

A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetic Design, Constructions and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2024) | Viewed by 11237

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education), Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Interests: 3D printing; additive manufacturing; biomimetic manufacturing; 4D ptintingprinting; hybrid additive manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Interests: 3D printing; polymer additive manufacturing; biomimetic manufacturing; 4D printing; hybrid additive manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Interests: additive manufacturing; biomimetic 3D printed structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Interests: 3D printing; additive manufacturing; biomimetic manufacturing; 4D printing; hybrid additive manufacturing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die & Mould Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
Interests: 3D printing; 4D printing; biomimetic structural design; topological design; lattice structure; mechanical metamaterial

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biomimetics 3D/4D printing can be applied in many areas of engineering. Generally, 4D printing is described as the 3D printing of smart materials that can change shape or other properties over time under external stimuli, such as humidity, light, heat, electric fields, or magnetic fields. FDM/FFF, LPBF, LDED, SLA/DLP, IDW, and hybrid additive manufacturing technologies are the main 3D/4D printing methods for biomimetics design/material/process.

This Special Issue of Biomimetics aims to cover the state of the art of biomimetics design/materials/process in additive manufacturing, especially in 3D and 4D printing, with a special emphasis on novel processing methods. Furthermore, perspectives and critical reviews about the current limitations, as well as future directions and emerging applications in the field, are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Qingping Liu
Prof. Dr. Wenzheng Wu
Dr. Hongze Wang
Dr. Guiwei Li
Dr. Lei Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomimetics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomimetics
  • 3D printing
  • additive manufacturing
  • 4D printing
  • hybrid additive manufacturing
  • biomimetic manufacturing

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 8699 KiB  
Article
Parametric Design and Mechanical Characterization of a Selective Laser Sintering Additively Manufactured Biomimetic Ribbed Dome Inspired by the Chorion of Lepidopteran Eggs
by Alexandros Efstathiadis, Ioanna Symeonidou, Emmanouil K. Tzimtzimis, Dimitrios Avtzis, Konstantinos Tsongas and Dimitrios Tzetzis
Biomimetics 2025, 10(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10010001 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1219
Abstract
The current research aims to analyze the shape and structural features of the eggs of the lepidoptera species Melitaea sp. (Lepidoptera, Nympalidae) and develop design solutions through the implementation of a novel strategy of biomimetic design. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the [...] Read more.
The current research aims to analyze the shape and structural features of the eggs of the lepidoptera species Melitaea sp. (Lepidoptera, Nympalidae) and develop design solutions through the implementation of a novel strategy of biomimetic design. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the chorion reveals a medial zone that forms an arachnoid grid resembling a ribbed dome with convex longitudinal ribs and concave transverse ring members. A parametric design algorithm was created with the aid of computer-aided design (CAD) software Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper3D in order to abstract and emulate the biological model. A series of physical models were manufactured with variations in geometric parameters like the number of ribs and rings, their thickness, and curvature. Selective laser sintering (SLS) technology and Polyamide12 (nylon) material were utilized for the prototyping process. Quasi-static compression testing was carried out in conjunction with finite element analysis (FEA) to investigate the deformation patterns and stress dispersion of the models. The biomimetic ribbed dome appears to significantly dampen the snap-through behavior that is observed in typical solid and lattice domes, decreasing dynamic stresses developed during the response and preventing catastrophic failure of the structure. Increasing the curvature of the ring segments further reduces the snap-through phenomenon and improves the overall strength. However, excessive curvature has a negative effect on the maximum sustained load. Increasing the number and thickness of the transverse rings and the number of the longitudinal ribs also increases the strength of the dome. However, excessive increase in the rib radius leads to more acute snap-through behavior and an earlier failure. The above results were validated using respective finite element analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic 3D/4D Printing)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4933 KiB  
Article
Pilot Evaluation of Silicone Surrogates for Oral Mucosa Simulation in Craniofacial Surgical Training
by Mitchell D. Cin, Krishna Koka, Justin Darragh, Zahra Nourmohammadi, Usama Hamdan and David A. Zopf
Biomimetics 2024, 9(8), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9080464 - 1 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1283
Abstract
Surgical simulators are crucial in early craniofacial and plastic surgical training, necessitating synthetic materials that accurately replicate tissue properties. Recent critiques of our lab’s currently deployed silicone surrogate have highlighted numerous areas for improvement. To further refine our models, our group’s objective is [...] Read more.
Surgical simulators are crucial in early craniofacial and plastic surgical training, necessitating synthetic materials that accurately replicate tissue properties. Recent critiques of our lab’s currently deployed silicone surrogate have highlighted numerous areas for improvement. To further refine our models, our group’s objective is to find a composition of materials that is closest in fidelity to native oral mucosa during surgical rehearsal by expert craniofacial surgeons. Fifteen platinum silicone-based surrogate samples were constructed with variable hardness and slacker percentages. These samples underwent evaluation of tactile sensation, hardness, needle puncture, cut resistance, suture retention, defect repair, and tensile elasticity. Expert craniofacial surgeon evaluators provided focused qualitative feedback on selected top-performing samples for further assessment and statistical comparisons. An evaluation revealed surrogate characteristics that were satisfactory and exhibited good performance. Sample 977 exhibited the highest performance, and comparison with the original surrogate (sample 810) demonstrated significant improvements in critical areas, emphasizing the efficacy of the refined composition. The study identified a silicone composition that directly addresses the feedback received by our team’s original silicone surrogate. The study underscores the delicate balance between biofidelity and practicality in surgical simulation. The need for ongoing refinement in surrogate materials is evident to optimize training experiences for early surgical learners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic 3D/4D Printing)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1867 KiB  
Article
Robust Superhydrophobicity through Surface Defects from Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing
by Longxin Kan, Lei Zhang, Pengfei Wang, Qi Liu, Jihao Wang, Bin Su, Bo Song and Yusheng Shi
Biomimetics 2023, 8(8), 598; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8080598 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2236
Abstract
The robustness of superhydrophobic objects conflicts with both the inevitable introduction of fragile micro/nanoscale surfaces and three-dimensional (3D) complex structures. The popular metal 3D printing technology can manufacture robust metal 3D complex components, but the hydrophily and mass surface defects restrict its diverse [...] Read more.
The robustness of superhydrophobic objects conflicts with both the inevitable introduction of fragile micro/nanoscale surfaces and three-dimensional (3D) complex structures. The popular metal 3D printing technology can manufacture robust metal 3D complex components, but the hydrophily and mass surface defects restrict its diverse application. Herein, we proposed a strategy that takes the inherent ridges and grooves’ surface defects from laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (LPBF-AM), a metal 3D printing process, as storage spaces for hydrophobic silica (HS) nanoparticles to obtain superhydrophobic capacity and superior robustness. The HS nanoparticles stored in the grooves among the laser-melted tracks serve as the hydrophobic guests, while the ridges’ metal network provides the mechanical strength, leading to robust superhydrophobic objects with desired 3D structures. Moreover, HS nanoparticles coated on the LPBF-AM-printed surface can inhibit corrosion behavior caused by surface defects. It was found that LPBF-AM-printed objects with HS nanoparticles retained superior hydrophobicity after 150 abrasion cycles (~12.5 KPa) or 50 cycles (~37.5 KPa). Furthermore, LPBF-AM-printed ships with superhydrophobic coating maintained great water repellency even after 10,000 cycles of seawater swashing, preventing dynamic corrosion upon surfaces. Our proposed strategy, therefore, provides a low-cost, highly efficient, and robust superhydrophobic coating, which is applicable to metal 3D architectures toward corrosion-resistant requirements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic 3D/4D Printing)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 3727 KiB  
Review
Three-Dimensional Bioprinting for Retinal Tissue Engineering
by Kevin Y. Wu, Rahma Osman, Natalie Kearn and Ananda Kalevar
Biomimetics 2024, 9(12), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9120733 - 1 Dec 2024
Viewed by 2308
Abstract
Three-dimensional bioprinting (3DP) is transforming the field of regenerative medicine by enabling the precise fabrication of complex tissues, including the retina, a highly specialized and anatomically complex tissue. This review provides an overview of 3DP’s principles, its multi-step process, and various bioprinting techniques, [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional bioprinting (3DP) is transforming the field of regenerative medicine by enabling the precise fabrication of complex tissues, including the retina, a highly specialized and anatomically complex tissue. This review provides an overview of 3DP’s principles, its multi-step process, and various bioprinting techniques, such as extrusion-, droplet-, and laser-based methods. Within the scope of biomimicry and biomimetics, emphasis is placed on how 3DP potentially enables the recreation of the retina’s natural cellular environment, structural complexity, and biomechanical properties. Focusing on retinal tissue engineering, we discuss the unique challenges posed by the retina’s layered structure, vascularization needs, and the complex interplay between its numerous cell types. Emphasis is placed on recent advancements in bioink formulations, designed to emulate retinal characteristics and improve cell viability, printability, and mechanical stability. In-depth analyses of bioinks, scaffold materials, and emerging technologies, such as microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip, highlight the potential of bioprinted models to replicate retinal disease states, facilitating drug development and testing. While challenges remain in achieving clinical translation—particularly in immune compatibility and long-term integration—continued innovations in bioinks and scaffolding are paving the way toward functional retinal constructs. We conclude with insights into future research directions, aiming to refine 3DP for personalized therapies and transformative applications in vision restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic 3D/4D Printing)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

30 pages, 15359 KiB  
Review
Advancement in Cancer Vasculogenesis Modeling through 3D Bioprinting Technology
by Arvind Kumar Shukla, Sik Yoon, Sae-Ock Oh, Dongjun Lee, Minjun Ahn and Byoung Soo Kim
Biomimetics 2024, 9(5), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9050306 - 20 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3033
Abstract
Cancer vasculogenesis is a pivotal focus of cancer research and treatment given its critical role in tumor development, metastasis, and the formation of vasculogenic microenvironments. Traditional approaches to investigating cancer vasculogenesis face significant challenges in accurately modeling intricate microenvironments. Recent advancements in three-dimensional [...] Read more.
Cancer vasculogenesis is a pivotal focus of cancer research and treatment given its critical role in tumor development, metastasis, and the formation of vasculogenic microenvironments. Traditional approaches to investigating cancer vasculogenesis face significant challenges in accurately modeling intricate microenvironments. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology present promising solutions to these challenges. This review provides an overview of cancer vasculogenesis and underscores the importance of precise modeling. It juxtaposes traditional techniques with 3D bioprinting technologies, elucidating the advantages of the latter in developing cancer vasculogenesis models. Furthermore, it explores applications in pathological investigations, preclinical medication screening for personalized treatment and cancer diagnostics, and envisages future prospects for 3D bioprinted cancer vasculogenesis models. Despite notable advancements, current 3D bioprinting techniques for cancer vasculogenesis modeling have several limitations. Nonetheless, by overcoming these challenges and with technological advances, 3D bioprinting exhibits immense potential for revolutionizing the understanding of cancer vasculogenesis and augmenting treatment modalities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomimetic 3D/4D Printing)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop