Scientists have recently developed a new material that possesses the unique properties of being able to grow, self-heal, and respond to the environment. The study focuses on the creation of “constructed living materials” utilizing plant cells, as reported in a publication.
This new material is produced by printing on a 3D printer using a bio-ink containing genetically modified tobacco cells, allowing for materials with programmable properties to be obtained. While bacterial and fungal cells have been used before, the distinctive features of plant cells make them ideal for the development of Engineered Plant Living Materials (EPLM).
The process involves blending tobacco cells with gelatin and hydrogel microparticles that are infused with Agrobacterium Tumefaciens, a bacterium commonly employed to transfer DNA segments to plant genomes. The resulting bio-ink mixture is then used to print various forms of EPLM on a 3D printer, such as gratings, snowflakes, leaves, and spirals.
This transferred DNA enables the tobacco plants to produce green fluorescent proteins or betalains – natural plant pigments used as dyes and food additives. After printing, the hydrogel solidifies under blue light, and over the next 48 hours, the bacteria transfer DNA to the growing tobacco cells. Subsequently, antibiotics are used to eliminate the bacteria, prompting the tobacco cells to start producing proteins dictated by the introduced DNA.
As a demonstration, EPLM was printed in sheet form using two different bio-inks, resulting in red pigment along the veins and yellow pigment in the sheet. The experiment showcased the technology’s ability to create complex, spatially controlled, and multifunctional structures.
According to researchers, EPLM combines the properties of living organisms with the stability of inanimate substances, making it potentially useful as cellular factories for producing plant metabolites, pharmaceutical proteins, or even in sustainable construction projects. In another study related to biomedical engineering, scientists at Visconsin University in Madison utilized 3D printing to create brain tissue, marking a significant advancement in brain research, drug testing, and monitoring brain development.