Doctoral themes 2023

3DBioMat: Bio-based Polymers and Hybrid Antimicrobial Materials for 3D Printing 

Supervisors

Ana Catarina Sousa, acsousa@deq.isel.ipl.pt

Alexander Kirillov, kirillov@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Maria João Ferreira, m.joao.ferreira@tecnico.ulisboa.pt

Registration Institution

Instituto Superior Técnico

Project description

Three-dimensional (3D) printing represents a promising technique to fabricate various objects with functional properties. The development of new natural-based resins as matrices for 3D printing is currently an expanding area of research. These matrices and derived materials are generally biocompatible and originate from biomass and other renewable sources, making them very appealing in terms of economic and environmental perspectives. The biological properties of resins and the obtained 3D printed materials can be boosted by adding components with antimicrobial behavior. These components may incorporate biocidal metal compounds with recognized antiseptic, antimicrobial, and therapeutic applications. Examples of such compounds include Ag, Cu, or Zn-based complexes and coordination polymers that can combine the biocidal metal centers with bioactive ligands and give rise to potent antimicrobial agents. Driven by these challenges and taking an advantage of bio-based polymers as non-toxic, biocompatible, low cost and tunable matrices, this doctoral project proposes to develop sustainable hybrid materials for 3D printing with improved chemical and antimicrobial characteristics. Prototype materials and 3D objects of biomedical relevance will be prepared and investigated in detail in terms of their physicochemical, mechanical, and antimicrobial behavior. The project includes a secondment (3-6 months) to the University of Wroclaw, Poland (Dr. Sabina Jaros).

Keywords

3D Printing

Antimicrobial Materials

Bio-based Polymers

Coordination Polymers

Sustainability