Multi-material printing as a device-manufacturing process
Research on flexible pressure sensors demonstrated direct ink writing as more than a geometry-making process. Functional inks, dielectric materials, electrodes and encapsulation could be deposited as parts of an integrated sensor-manufacturing workflow.
From soft capacitive sensors to dynamic tactile sensing
The research stream included elastomeric foam-based capacitive pressure sensors and a fully printed piezoelectric pressure sensor for dynamic tactile sensing. The latter integrated sensing material, electrodes and packaging through multi-material additive manufacturing and was demonstrated on a prosthetic hand for distinguishing objects with different hardness.
- Direct ink writing of functional and conductive materials.
- Soft and flexible pressure-sensor architectures.
- Multi-material fabrication of sensing, electrode and packaging structures.
- Application potential in robotics, wearables, rehabilitation and tactile systems.
The research line extended into printed bioelectronics
In 2024, researchers used the Brinter ONE platform to fabricate PEDOT:PSS channels for organic electrochemical transistors by direct ink writing. The study compared the printed devices with conventional deposition approaches and demonstrated a cleanroom-free fabrication route for devices relevant to bioelectronic applications.
Conductive hydrogels connected printing with biosensing
In 2026, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research used a Brinter One extrusion-based bioprinter with temperature-controlled material handling to fabricate conductive PEG–PPy hydrogels. The printed hydrogels combined tissue-like mechanics, high cytocompatibility and electrochemical function, and were demonstrated as gate electrodes in organic electrochemical transistors and as enzyme-functionalised glucose-sensing interfaces.
- Brinter One extrusion printing with temperature-controlled material handling.
- Conductive PEG–PPy hydrogel structures with tunable stiffness.
- Integration as soft gate electrodes in organic electrochemical transistors.
- Glucose oxidase functionalisation for enzymatic biosensing.
Evidence of a broader manufacturing platform
Historically, these publications show a continuous expansion from soft printed sensors toward functional and biological electronic interfaces. The same core principles — controlled extrusion, modular material handling and multi-material deposition — can support biological, pharmaceutical and functional-material applications.