The research team of Prof. Cha Hyung-Joon (CE) and Prof. Cho Dong-Woo (ME) developed technology to print artificial 3D body structure based on sea anemone silk protein material which has great mechanical properties. The research team took optical cross-linking method that forms a covalent bond between two polymers using light.
Synthetic polymers have outstanding properties, while biocompatibility is greatly insufficient for body transplantation. In contrary, natural polymers have excellent biocompatibility, but their significantly deficient properties make it difficult for them to produce a sophisticated 3D structure. 
The research team has developed material based on sea anemone silk protein, which has superb mechanical properties. Through di-tyrosine optical cross-linking method, the material gained high physical stability and fast bridging capability, and the compression injection allowed the fine print of 3D structures in various shapes such as artificial ears, nose and blood vessels to the thickness of 200~1,000μm. These structures were four times more elastic then silk protein-based structures origin from cocoons which are known for great properties. 
The newly developed 3D printing material showed high affinity with various kinds of cells and induced cellular differentiation that composes bones and cartilage. This technology is expected to be used for transplantation and treatment of various body tissues. The study was published in Biofabrication, the top authority in thfe field of biomaterial.