Mosquito feeding tubes used for micro 3D printing

Microscopic 3D printed structures produced using the technique.PIC COURTESY/McGill University

Researchers have transformed female mosquito feeding tubes into ultra-high-resolution 3D-printing nozzles.

The approach allows printers to lay down material with line widths as small as 20 microns - slightly smaller than a white blood cell.

The result pushes current 3D-printing limits. The team named the technique "3D necroprinting."

The process uses a non-living biological structure directly as a functional manufacturing tool. Unlike conventional nozzles, the mosquito proboscis evolved for efficient penetration and fluid transport.

Its natural geometry reduces clogging and pressure buildup, making it well-suited for controlled material deposition.

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