Mosquito Anatomy Inspires Ultrafine 3D Printing

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STARTER STATS

• Typical 3D-printer nozzles print at resolutions of ~40–100 microns. For comparison, the human hair is ~75–100 microns wide.

• Micro-bioprinting markets are projected to grow into the billions by 2030.

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Inspired by the Female Mosquito

Researchers have found an intriguing source for ultrafine 3D-printer nozzles: the female mosquito’s proboscis.

The McGill University and Drexel University team repurposed the mosquito's tiny, naturally evolved “feeding tube” to create biodegradable, high-resolution printing tips. Those tips can lay down material lines as fine as ~20 microns. That's roughly half the width of a human hair, and it is approximately twice as precise as many existing commercial nozzles.

"Mosquito proboscides let us print extremely small, precise structures that are difficult or very expensive to produce with conventional tools."

— Dr. Jianyu Li

How it Works: A Pioneering 3D Printing Technique

The '3D necroprinting' technique uses non-living mosquito proboscides, ethically harvested from lab colonies. Under microscopic guidance, researchers attached these biological needles to standard dispenser tips. The tips are tested for strength and pressure tolerance, and are then integrated into customized 3D printing setups.

The process delivers delicate printed structures, including honeycombs, maple leaves, and even bioscaffolds that support living cells.

Implications: Superior Manufacturing

Current ultrafine nozzles are manufactured from specialized glass or metal, which can be expensive, wasteful, and energy-intensive.

The mosquito-derived alternative is biodegradable and can be reused if operated within safe pressure limits. This offers an environmentally friendlier option for applications in tissue engineering, cell-laden gel printing and microassembly.

The team's work paves the way for further sustainable microengineering solutions. With subsequent refinements, biologically inspired nozzles could expand high-res manufacturing while reducing the environmental footprint.

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