Innovative Zein-derived inks: Towards sustainable 3D printing solutions
The demand for sustainable materials has become increasingly critical with the rapid expansion of 3D printing technologies. This study highlights the development of a biodegradable, zein-based bio-ink derived from corn gluten meal as a promising candidate for extrusion-based 3D printing applications...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025001057 |
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| author | Derniza-Elena Cozorici Erika Blanzeanu Ionut-Cristian Radu Marian Nicolae Verziu Cristina Stavarache Minodora Marin Rafael Luque Catalin Zaharia |
| author_facet | Derniza-Elena Cozorici Erika Blanzeanu Ionut-Cristian Radu Marian Nicolae Verziu Cristina Stavarache Minodora Marin Rafael Luque Catalin Zaharia |
| author_sort | Derniza-Elena Cozorici |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The demand for sustainable materials has become increasingly critical with the rapid expansion of 3D printing technologies. This study highlights the development of a biodegradable, zein-based bio-ink derived from corn gluten meal as a promising candidate for extrusion-based 3D printing applications. A novel two-step functionalization strategy was employed, involving the esterification of zein to introduce hydroxyl groups, followed by methacrylation with methacrylic acid to create a UV-curable ink formulation. The functionalization was validated through ¹HNMR and FTIR analyses, and the photocrosslinking potential was demonstrated in a UV-curing chamber. Rheological analysis confirmed the shear-thinning behavior of the ink, with optimized viscosity ensuring smooth extrusion and shape fidelity. Mechanical testing of UV-crosslinked constructs revealed a solid-like structure with a storage modulus (Gʹ) exceeding the loss modulus (Gʺ) by an order of magnitude, indicating strong elastic properties and structural stability. The optimized ink formulation achieved excellent printability with up to 90 %-dimensional accuracy and robust mechanical properties, making it suitable for biomedical applications. These findings expand the limited research on zein as a 3D-printable material, showcasing its potential for sustainable manufacturing and soft tissue engineering. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0cf66cf7b4ed47edaaeefde01e8b12fb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-0cf66cf7b4ed47edaaeefde01e8b12fb2025-01-16T04:29:13ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-03-0125104017Innovative Zein-derived inks: Towards sustainable 3D printing solutionsDerniza-Elena Cozorici0Erika Blanzeanu1Ionut-Cristian Radu2Marian Nicolae Verziu3Cristina Stavarache4Minodora Marin5Rafael Luque6Catalin Zaharia7Advanced Polymer Materials Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Bucharest 011061, RomaniaAdvanced Polymer Materials Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Bucharest 011061, RomaniaAdvanced Polymer Materials Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Bucharest 011061, RomaniaAdvanced Polymer Materials Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Bucharest 011061, RomaniaAdvanced Polymer Materials Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Bucharest 011061, RomaniaAdvanced Polymer Materials Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Bucharest 011061, RomaniaAdvanced Polymer Materials Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Bucharest 011061, Romania; Universidad ECOTEC, Km. 13.5 Samborondón, Samborondón EC092302, Ecuador; Corresponding authors.Advanced Polymer Materials Group, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Bucharest 011061, Romania; Corresponding authors.The demand for sustainable materials has become increasingly critical with the rapid expansion of 3D printing technologies. This study highlights the development of a biodegradable, zein-based bio-ink derived from corn gluten meal as a promising candidate for extrusion-based 3D printing applications. A novel two-step functionalization strategy was employed, involving the esterification of zein to introduce hydroxyl groups, followed by methacrylation with methacrylic acid to create a UV-curable ink formulation. The functionalization was validated through ¹HNMR and FTIR analyses, and the photocrosslinking potential was demonstrated in a UV-curing chamber. Rheological analysis confirmed the shear-thinning behavior of the ink, with optimized viscosity ensuring smooth extrusion and shape fidelity. Mechanical testing of UV-crosslinked constructs revealed a solid-like structure with a storage modulus (Gʹ) exceeding the loss modulus (Gʺ) by an order of magnitude, indicating strong elastic properties and structural stability. The optimized ink formulation achieved excellent printability with up to 90 %-dimensional accuracy and robust mechanical properties, making it suitable for biomedical applications. These findings expand the limited research on zein as a 3D-printable material, showcasing its potential for sustainable manufacturing and soft tissue engineering.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S25901230250010573D printingInkBiopolymerZeinSustainability |
| spellingShingle | Derniza-Elena Cozorici Erika Blanzeanu Ionut-Cristian Radu Marian Nicolae Verziu Cristina Stavarache Minodora Marin Rafael Luque Catalin Zaharia Innovative Zein-derived inks: Towards sustainable 3D printing solutions Results in Engineering 3D printing Ink Biopolymer Zein Sustainability |
| title | Innovative Zein-derived inks: Towards sustainable 3D printing solutions |
| title_full | Innovative Zein-derived inks: Towards sustainable 3D printing solutions |
| title_fullStr | Innovative Zein-derived inks: Towards sustainable 3D printing solutions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Innovative Zein-derived inks: Towards sustainable 3D printing solutions |
| title_short | Innovative Zein-derived inks: Towards sustainable 3D printing solutions |
| title_sort | innovative zein derived inks towards sustainable 3d printing solutions |
| topic | 3D printing Ink Biopolymer Zein Sustainability |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025001057 |
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