Infections caused due to microbes remains a major complication to keep and maintain health and hygiene issues related to human body. In current research preparation of a novel polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based ink is reported, which facilitates the 3D printing of lightweight medicated jewelry items. The photo-polymer matrix is filled with mesoporous silica aerogel camouflaging silver nanoparticles inside the nanopores as antimicrobial agent. SEM results reveals excellent dispersion of nanofiller in the polymer matrix while antimicrobial testing proves effective in controlling gram negative bacteria ( E-Coli ), that are responsible for wide range of infections from urinary track to pneumonia and diarrhea. PMMA used n this recipe is known as adherence medium for variety of microbes 1, once they adhere to surface the microbes are killed by antimicrobial agent. Thus aggregating the microbes from the surface of human body to a specific surface of 3D printed jewelry items and destroying them therein keeps human body specially skin free from microbes. This results in protecting humans against infectious diseases and improving life standards. 3D printing of such composite material has not been reported in past, here lies the novelty of this research work. Moreover the strategy utilizes methodology which is much cost effective with endless applications in medical field from limiting spread of infectious diseases to eliminate microbes from surrounding. The jewelry items at instant printed are extremely helpful to limit the spread of diseases caused specially with contaminated fingers and hands which are not easy to be kept clean all the time. • Infections caused due to microbes remains a major complication to maintain health. • 3D printing is a tool for manufacturing a wide range of complex structures and geometries. • Printing of novel antimicrobial polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) based ink is reported. • The purpose of antimicrobial resin was to produce medicated 3D printed jewellery. • In future testing of such antimicrobial ink for other microbes like fungi shall be crucial.
Gul et al. (Thu,) studied this question.