Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Purdue University have announced the development of the bio-ink they say can help localize the regions, tissues, and organs that are critical during surgical operations. Ink used to make biocensor biocompatible and provide a user-friendly design with an extraordinary time frame for more than one day.
Scientists on the project said new biosensors allow simultaneous recording and network imaging and organs during surgical procedures. These materials can be used for recording and imaging simultaneously during heart surgery, localizing important areas, and guiding surgical interventions, including procedures for restoring normal heart rhythms. Researchers in Los Alamos are responsible for the formulation and synthesize Bio-Ink.
Their aim is to create ultra-soft, thin, and stretched material for biosensors who are able to interact with organ surfaces using 3D printing techniques. Researcher Kwan-soo Lee said silicon material was a liquid that flowed like honey, making it very challenging to print 3D without sagging problems and flowing during printing. Lee said it was interesting to find a way to make printing inks that did not have any deformation during the curing process.
Bio-inks are softer than the network and stretch without experiencing sensor degradation. They also have a reliable natural adhesion to the surface of wet organs without requiring additional adhesives. The researchers conducted a material experiment with the assessment of in vivo from patches by testing on mice and pigs. The test results show biosensors can reliably measure electrical signals while not disturbing heart function.
There is no indication when or whether the material will be moved to the human trial at this time. It is also unclear when if the material can be used in traditional surgical settings.