Biopolymer-based inks and use thereof
The present application discloses biopolymer-based ink formulations that are useful for inkjet printing and other applications. Related methods are also disclosed.
1. A printable keratin ink comprising:
an aqueous keratin solution, substantially free of an organic solvent and having a molecular weight of about 3.5 kD to about 350 kD and a concentration of keratin in a range of about 0.1 (wt/vol) % to about 10 (wt/vol) %;
wherein when it is printed to a substrate, a droplet volume of about 0.1 pL to about 5 nL of the aqueous keratin solution is characterized by a viscosity of about 1 centipoise to about 20 centipoise when viscosity is measured at room temperature and a surface tension of about 15 dynes/cm to about 50 dynes/cm when measured at room temperature.
2. The printable keratin ink of claim 1 , having a pH value between 5-9.
3. The printable keratin ink of claim 1 , further comprising a viscosity-modifying agent, a surfactant, or combination thereof.
4. The printable keratin ink of claim 3 , wherein the viscosity-modifying agent is present at about 5-30 wt % of the printable keratin ink composition.
5. The printable keratin ink of claim 3 , wherein the surfactant is present at about 0.1-10 wt % of the printable keratin ink composition.
6. The printable keratin ink of claim 1 , further comprising an additive.
7. The printable keratin ink of claim 1 , further comprising a structural protein selected from the group consisting of: fibroins, actins, collagens, catenins, claudins, coilins, elastins, elaunins, extensins, fibrillins, lamins, laminins, tublins, viral structural proteins, zein proteins and any combinations thereof.
8. The printable keratin ink of claim 7 , wherein the structural protein is a low molecular weight structural protein selected from the group consisting of: low molecular weight silk fibroins, low molecular weight actins, low molecular weight collagens, low molecular weight catenins, low molecular weight claudins, low molecular weight coilins, low molecular weight elastins, low molecular weight elaunins, low molecular weight extensins, low molecular weight fibrillins, low molecular weight lamins, low molecular weight laminins, low molecular weight tublins, low molecular weight viral structural proteins, and any combinations thereof.
9. The printable keratin ink of claim 1 , wherein the printable keratin ink is substantially free of keratin having a molecular weight over 200 kDa.
10. The printable keratin ink of claim 1 , wherein the droplet unit printed to the substrate, has a gel, semi-solid, or solid form and a diameter measured at its smallest cross-section of about 0.1 μm to about 250 μm.
11. The printable keratin ink of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous keratin solution is characterized such that when it is printed to a substrate, a gel, a semi-sold, or a solid unit forms having a resolution about 5 dpi to about 20,000 dpi.
12. A method for printing a structure, the method comprising steps of:
providing the printable keratin ink of claim 1 ;
depositing the printable keratin ink through a nozzle in liquid droplets onto a substrate in a predetermined spatial pattern, wherein each liquid droplet has a volume of about 0.1 pL to about 5 nL.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the depositing step comprises a jetting velocity of about 7 m/sec to about 9 m/sec.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of piezoelectrically actuating the nozzel.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the nozzle has a diameter in the range of 10 and 50 μm.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of applying at least one of (a) heat and (b) ultraviolet irradiation to the aqueous keratin ink after depositing the aqueous keratin ink onto the substrate.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the aqueous keratin ink further comprises a dopant.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the dopant comprises a nanoparticle.
19. A printed array comprising:
a substrate; and,
a plurality of dot units,
wherein the plurality of dot units is in a gel form, a semi-solid form or a solid form, and wherein dot units of the plurality of dot units were formed, jetted, printed and/or deposited from the printable keratin ink of claim 1 upon a substrate, such that they form in
a predetermined spatial pattern on a surface of the substrate.
20. The printed array of claim 19 , wherein the printed array has a resolution of between about 50-20,000 dpi.
21. The printed array of claim 19 , wherein the printed array forms substantially a two-dimensional (2D) structure having a predetermined spatial pattern of substantially even thickness.
22. The printed array of claim 19 , wherein the printed array forms substantially a three-dimensional (3D) structure having a predetermined spatial pattern of varying thickness across the predetermined spatial pattern.
23. The printed array of claim 19 , wherein the dot units of the plurality of dot units are about 0.1 μm to about 250 μm in diameter.
24. The printed array of claim 19 , wherein the dot units of the plurality of dot units have a volume of about 0.1 pL to about 5 nL.