3D printed models of small and large molecules, structures and morphologies of crystals, as well as their anisotropic physical properties

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) physical models of atomic structures of crystals, their anisotropic properties and morphologies as well as models of small and large molecules were printed with support from 3D Systems Corporation. Structural information in Crystallographic Information Framework (CIF) files from the Crystallography Open Database and the Protein Data Bank was utilized. Computer programs were either newly developed (Cif2VRML) or enhanced by 3D print file export functions (WinXMorph and WinTensor) in order to design most of these models. Current 3D printing technologies are briefly reviewed. The literature on the impact on students' comprehension and retention of structural information with access to such models is assessed. Our taking of a historical perspective in this paper illustrates that the usage of models has for more than 200 years been an integral component of crystallography.

3D printing for chemical, pharmaceutical and biological applications

“…Perhaps one of the easiest entries into 3D printing is through the production of teaching aids. [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] Commercially, the cost of these model sets used in a large classroom setting can often be prohibitive, whereas when printed each individual item can be produced for a fraction of the price if access to a desktop printer is provided. Extension of this concept to other types of teaching aids has seen the production of reaction progress surfaces to represent spectroscopic data in a more engaging format, 37 as well as energy profiles to visualise local and global minima in a simplistic manner.…”

Crystallographic education in the 21st century

“…College educators around the world are now producing their own three-dimensional printed crystallographic models (Stone-Sundberg et al, 2015). Their papers are often published in journals and the proceedings of conferences that are dedicated to college education.…”

Assemble-And-Match: A Novel Hybrid Tool for Enhancing Education and Research in Rational Structure Based Drug Design

“…The current 3D printing technologies and the impact of 3D printed models on students’ comprehension and retention of structural information are reviewed in ref. 31 . In one study reported in ref.…”