Such nanotechnology involves engineering carbon-based polymer molecules, one-millionth the size of a grain of sand, that attach to fibers to wick away moisture and resist stains, water and static.

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As an engineering exercise, EOS also printed the parts for a violin using a high-performance industrial polymer, had it assembled by a professional violin-maker and played by a concert violinist.

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Germeshausen Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at MIT, is a founder of the budding field of tissue engineering--of restoring, maintaining and improving tissue by growing it, in vitro, on a biodegradable polymer (plastic) scaffold.

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