German scientists have invented an innovative method that helps them print 3D objects using sound waves. The results of the research were published in the journal Science Advances.

According to the study, the design creates pressure fields using multiple acoustic holograms that can be used to print solid particles, gel beads and even living cells.

Using functional or biological materials, additive manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing allow complex parts to be created.

Traditional 3D printing, where items are created one line or layer at a time, can be a tedious process. However, researchers from Heidelberg and Tübingen have now shown how to create a 3D figure from smaller details in one step.

Wavelengths can be brought into the microscopic realm below a millimeter by high-frequency ultrasound, which is audible to the human ear and used by researchers to affect incredibly tiny building blocks, including biological cells.

Ultrasound can be created using acoustic holograms, which are 3D-printed plates that encode a specific sound field. Scientists have demonstrated that materials can be combined into two-dimensional patterns using these sound fields. In light of this, the scientists developed a production concept.

“The key idea was to use several acoustic holograms together and create a unified field that could capture particles,” the researchers said.

The advantage of ultrasound is that it is gentle enough to use biological cells and can penetrate deep into tissues. This allows you to convert and move cells without unnecessary risks.