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3D-printable glass is made from proteins and biodegrades

Chemically modifying the ends of the molecules opens the door to glass that could decompose with organic waste.
  1. Jude Coleman
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Researchers have transformed amino acids and peptides — the building blocks of proteins — into glass, according to a study published in Science Advances1. Not only is the biomolecular glass transparent, but it can be 3D printed and cast in moulds. The paper suggests that the glass biodegrades pretty quickly, but wouldn’t be suitable for applications such as drinks bottles because the liquid would cause it to decompose.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00826-3

References

  1. Xing, R., Yuan, C., Fan, W., Ren, X. & Yan, X. Sci. Adv. 9, eadd8105(2023).

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