CHAPTER 8: Reactive Inkjet Printing of Regenerated Silk Fibroin as a 3D Scaffold for Autonomous Swimming Devices (Micro-rockets)
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Published:27 Nov 2017
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Special Collection: 2017 ebook collection
D. A. Gregory, Y. Zhang, S. J. Ebbens, and X. Zhao, in Reactive Inkjet Printing: A Chemical Synthesis Tool, ed. P. J. Smith and A. Morrin, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2017, pp. 169-201.
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This chapter focuses on the use of reactive inkjet printing for generation of self-motile bubble-propelled silk micro-rockets. Initially some background information regarding self-motile swimming devices is given and how these can be used for future applications. The current issues revolving around many of the devices (as discussed in the relevant literature) are addressed, and why silk-based micro-rockets are a big step in the right direction regarding manufacture, biocompatibility, degradability and cost efficiency is discussed. After setting the scene we look into the challenges that have to be addressed when the researcher attempts to produce silk micro-rockets and look at how different types of inks and structures alter the bubble release of micro-rockets and thus change both their motion and directionality, control of which are key challenges for micromotor efficiency.