Don’t stop the movement: dynamic 3D printing for wearable electronics and wound healing

Tracking technology allows low cost and portable 3D printer to layer electronic connect, or even human cells, on dynamic surfaces. A team led by Michael McAlpine, Associate Professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota (MN, USA), have developed a 3D printer with technology to track markers on skin, allowing it to respond to movements while printing with accuracy. While low cost and portable, results published in Advanced Materials suggest that the printer can be loaded with either low temperature curing conductive ink or cell laden hydrogels, for wearable electronics or therapeutic use. Currently, 3D printing systems typically rely...