Melanin Based Bio-composites for 3D Printing

Unmet Need
Melanin pigments show many unique physicochemical properties with several commercial potential. Specifically it has much academic and commercial potential in broadband optical absorption, efficient conversion of radiation into heat, hybrid ionic-electronic conductance, and high affinity to a wide range of metals and radionuclides. Within these applications, there is an understanding that melanin biopolymers shield against different types of ionizing radiation. This is extremely relevant to space exploration and radiation therapeutic applications. The medical radiation shielding market size is expected to be worth $1,330 million by 2021, and this does not include the emergent space economy. Therefore, there is a need for a melanin thermoplastic composite that is able to shield against different types of ionizing radiation effectively and consistently, as there is no current solution on the market. In addition, this composite needs to be compatible with thermoplastics with the heat tolerance of melanin, such as current commercially available thermoplastics like PLA, PET, PETG, and PE.

Technology Overview
The inventors have developed a composite material of melanin mixed with thermoplastic usable as a 3D printer filament. This melanin-based 3D printed filament will allow for the construction of numerous objects for diverse applications of radiation shieling, energy capture, and bioelectronics. This composite is a PLA-melanin composite that has the ability to shield ionizing radiation for several applications, ranging from diagnostic medicine to space exploration. In addition, results have shown this composite to shield against UV and visible light, while also continually promoting heat harvesting properties due to the melanin physiochemical properties. By fabricating the composite through 3D-printer filaments, this technology also has the potential to be cheap and easier to produce than other potentially more expensive alternatives.

Stage of Development
The inventors have developed a prototype and are working to implement a 3-D printing component. They are continuing to develop further thermoplastic composites.
 

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