CPC A01K 61/70 (2017.01) [B29C 64/129 (2017.08); B29C 64/245 (2017.08); B29C 64/286 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 70/10 (2020.01); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); B29K 2001/08 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0032 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0073 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0056 (2013.01); B29L 2031/702 (2013.01)] | 24 Claims |
1. A method for promoting microalgae growth, the method comprising:
providing an artificial coral structure by:
disposing a printing surface on a movable stage of a 3D bioprinter, the 3D bioprinter comprising a digital micromirror device configured for modulating light from a light source into patterns defined by a plurality of digital masks, projection optics configured for projecting the modulated light onto a focal plane at the printing surface;
contacting the printing surface with at least one bio-ink, wherein the at least one bio-ink comprises a mixture of a pre-polymer material with one or more of cellulose-derived nanocrystals (CNC), and microalgae cells;
projecting modulated light onto the printing surface while moving the stage to fabricate a 3D scaffold by progressively polymerizing:
a first bio-ink comprising a mixture of pre-polymer material and CNC to define layers of skeletal structures having a plurality of pores and cavities and tissue structures having radially-extending projections, wherein the skeletal structures and tissue structures are configured to scatter light within the structures, and
a second bio-ink comprising a mixture of pre-polymer material and microalgae cells onto the skeletal structures and tissue structures;
disposing the artificial coral structure within a cultivation medium; and
exposing the artificial coral structure to photosynthesis-inducing radiation.
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