New 3D-Printed 'Living Material' Removes Water Contaminants

A team of scientists at the University of California San Diego developed an eco-friendly method of purifying water featuring a 3D-printed substance that could remove antibiotics, pharmaceutical drugs, bisphenol A (BPA), dyes, and other organic contaminants.

Known as the engineered living material, it contains a seaweed-based polymer and genetically edited cyanobacteria. Researchers achieved it by hydrating alginate to form a gel solution, and then they mixed it with cyanobacteria to create a mixture that would be fed into a 3D printer.

After conducting a series of tests, they discovered that a grid-like structure would allow the cyanobacteria to survive the most and would boost its ability to decontaminate water using laccase. Laccase is a decontaminating enzyme produced by genetically engineered bacteria that turn various organic pollutants into benign molecules.

Once the purification process is complete, the novel decontaminating material could eliminate itself with the help of theophylline. Theophylline is a molecule that, when exposed to the engineered material, forces it to produce a protein capable of destroying its cells.

Read the full article here to learn more about the 3D-printed living material.

Aqua Solutions welcomes scientific breakthroughs like this, and we remain dedicated to providing high-quality water purification solutions. Explore our range of lab water systems at www.aqua.com.