Webinar: 3D printing of diamond for biomedical and biomaterial applications

Diamond is an interesting biomaterial with history as a coating material for orthopaedic interfaces and heart valves as well as the electrode system for high profile projects such as the Australian Bionic Eye project. As is well established, 3D printing is changing the way that we as biomedical researchers approach patient specific solutions. The challenge however for a material like diamond is the upscale to complex shapes and parts. By combining 3D printing we can achieve this. I have previously shown that we can use SLM titanium as a substrate for the coating of diamond onto complex parts. Here I will discuss the methods we have developed to combine 3D printing and diamond, discussing the new material and reporting on the superior cell/antibacterial interface (compared to titanium alone). In particular, I will report on:

1. The use of diamond an electrode material for bionic implants

2. The use of nanodiamond-polymer composites for in vivo imaging

3. The results of our new method to use laser metal deposition (LMD) to print free standing diamond-titanium materials for implant engineering and show the results of our first animal trial that reveals that diamond provides a superior implant material than SLM titanium.

Kate is a professor of biomedical engineering at RMIT University where she works at the interface between engineering and medicine. Awarded her PhD in Applied Science from the University of South Australia, Kate has worked at the interface between engineering and medicine for over 15 years and is highly experienced in the use of 3D printing in medicine, developing novel materials such as diamond for biomedical manufacturing. Kate has been a Superstar of STEM, Tall Poppy and named as one of Engineer’s Australia’s Most Innovative Engineer.

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Tran Thuat (VNU-Hanoi)