Solution-based Inks
Solution-based Inks - Related Videos
10:49
Planar and Three-Dimensional Printing of Conductive Inks
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Cited by 58 •
2011
Planar and three-dimensional printing of conductive metallic inks is described. Our approach provides new avenues for fabricating printed electronic, optoelectronic, and biomedical devices in unusual layouts at the microscale.
03:07
India Ink Inflation: A Staining Method to Visualize Tumor Nodules
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2023
This video describes india ink inflation--a staining method--to quantify tumor nodules in tumor-bearing mouse lungs. After staining, the lungs are fixed in Fekete's solution to observe tumor nodules in the lungs.
13:16
Intravascular Perfusion of Carbon Black Ink Allows Reliable Visualization of Cerebral Vessels
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Cited by 16 •
2013
Analysis of rodent cerebrovascular anatomy plays an important role in experimental stroke research. In this context, intravascular perfusion with colored latex has been considered as a standard tool for several years. However, this technique implies distinct technical limitations, which undermine its reproducibility. Here, we describe a simple method to visualize cerebral vessels in a reproducible manner. Injection of a mixture of two commercially available carbon black inks through the left...
10:31
Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopic Identification of Dispersant/Particle Bonding Mechanisms in Functional Inks
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Cited by 11 •
2015
Formulation of stable, functional inks is critical to expanding the applications of additive manufacturing. In turn, knowledge of the mechanisms of dispersant/particle bonding is required for effective ink formulation. Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) is presented as a simple, inexpensive way to gain insight into these mechanisms.
11:06
Fabrication of Fully Solution Processed Inorganic Nanocrystal Photovoltaic Devices
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Cited by 4 •
2016
This protocol describes the synthesis and solution deposition of inorganic nanocrystals layer by layer to produce thin film electronics on non-conductive surfaces. Solvent-stabilized inks can produce complete photovoltaic devices on glass substrates via spin and spray coating following post-deposition ligand exchange and sintering.
FAQs
Print performance depends on balancing viscosity, gelation behavior, and composition. Viscosity affects how the formulation moves through the nozzle and retains a deposited pattern, while gelation helps the printed material stabilize. Composition links these processing properties to mechanical behavior and biocompatibility. Matching all three to the printing process improves fidelity and suitability for the intended biological environment.
After deposition, solvent removal by evaporation or diffusion concentrates the dissolved material. This concentration step changes a fluidly deposited pattern into a more stable structure, so the extent of solvent removal influences whether printed layers retain their geometry. The mechanism is important when researchers need scaffolds or constructs to stabilize after layer-by-layer fabrication.
Composition matters because polymers, biomolecules, and other solutes contribute to the properties required after printing, while the carrier enables their initial delivery through the nozzle. Adjusting this balance allows researchers to connect formulation chemistry with print fidelity, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility rather than treating these outcomes independently.
An appropriate workflow begins by selecting polymers, biomolecules, or other solutes and combining them with a liquid carrier. Researchers then match viscosity, gelation behavior, and composition to the extrusion process, drive the formulation through a nozzle, and deposit successive layers. Evaporation or diffusion subsequently removes solvent, concentrates the solute, and stabilizes the patterned structure.
The formulation requires a liquid carrier containing dissolved polymers, biomolecules, or other solutes. Extrusion-based fabrication also requires a nozzle through which the material can be driven and deposited in layers. These components work together: the formulation determines processing and final properties, while the nozzle enables controlled pattern placement for scaffold, construct, or device fabrication.
In bioengineering, these inks support fabrication of scaffolds, microfluidic features, drug-delivery systems, and cell-laden constructs. Their value comes from tunability: researchers can relate formulation chemistry and processing behavior to patterned geometry, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. This makes them relevant to tissue engineering and regenerative medicine studies involving engineered biological environments.