Enhancing Students’ Understanding of Saccharides by 3D Printed Glucose Models

Teaching the three-dimensional structure of saccharides has consistently been a challenging aspect of organic chemistry courses, impeding students’ ability to grasp more advanced topics in biochemistry and food chemistry. In this article, we designed and developed a novel d-glucopyranose model using 3D printing technology for the first time. This model can be adapted into other glucose-like monosaccharides through simple painting techniques. Notably, the model can also be utilized for the assembly of various saccharides, including maltose, cellobiose, amylose, amylopectin, glycogen, cyclodextrin, cellulose, chitin, chitosan, and heparin. It serves as an intuitive and movable tool to visualize glycosidic bond types and molecular shapes of saccharide. Hands-on activities have demonstrated that these glucose models could significantly enhance students’ comprehension of the three-dimensional structure of saccharides, thereby reinforcing their comprehension of the physical and chemical properties and functions of these macromolecules. The modular assembly method significantly reduces the volume of the models and simplifies the operation compared with the ball and stick model. Furthermore, these models are compact and reusable, making them highly practical for educational use.