Designing for the future: the intersection of 3D printing and oleogels

Abstract

This chapter explores the use of 3D printing technologies with oleogels and bigels–the combination of oleogels and hydrogels–as printing inks, considering they are lipid-based materials with excellent properties for the development of customized food products and the delivery of lipid-soluble active molecules. Firstly, the most suitable 3D printing techniques for these materials are described including a full description of the process variables and their impact on the quality of printed products. Then, the most notable findings derived from existing research contributions to date evaluating the performance of 3D printing of oleogels and bigels are presented. Furthermore, the rheological, mechanical, and printing tests that need to be performed on both printing inks and printed forms to assess the materials´ printability and the quality of the printed products are described in detail. Finally, the chapter discusses the challenges, future outlooks, and perspectives regarding the use of oleogels and bigels in 3D printing.