3D Printed Living Electrodes

Conventional electrode technologies that seek to provide a connection between the biological and inorganic surfaces are plagued by issues of physical, chemical and mechanical incompatibility with the complex biological environment. Living electrodes offer a possible solution to these issues by constructing electrodes from living cells and soft, biocompatible materials such as hydrogels. Recently, immobilizing microalgae within biopolymer or hydrogel materials have aroused the interest of researchers due to their unique properties and potential applications in various fields such as biotechnology, biomedical, environmental and industrial processes. This thesis is focused on the development of hydrogel systems capable of supporting the immobilisation and proliferation of the green algae Chlorella Vulgaris, and the development of 3D fabrication technologies that allow the construction of intricate 3D printed scaffolds that can be employed as living electrodes.