Biomaterials out of thin air: in situ, on-demand printing of advanced biocomposites

The concept is that a 3D array of bioengineered living cells deposits materials, both biological and inorganic, that are bound into nonliving, microstructured finished products. Imagine being able to print anything from tools and composite building materials to food and human tissues. Imagine being on Mars with the ability to replace any broken part, whether it's a part of your spacesuit, your habitat, or your own body. We propose a technique that would allow just that. By printing 3D arrays of cells engineered to secrete the necessary materials, the abundant in situ resources of atmosphere and regolith become organic, inorganic, or organic-inorganic composite materials. Such materials include novel, biologically derived materials not previously possible to fabricate.

Benefits of this concept include: drastically reduceing upmass requirements of many current space missions, greatly multiplying the potential of off-planet in situ resource utilization, enabling a new class of space missions currently precluded by material transport needs, and vast potential for exploration of novel, synthetic biomaterials and biocomposites.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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