Biodegradable polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering can be functionalized with specific chemistries to direct desired cellular behavior and matrix formation. These scaffolds are typically modified post-fabrication, which can lead to undesirable changes in scaffold properties. In addition, most functionalization strategies result in homogeneously distributed chemistries that fail to mimic the biochemical organization found in native tissues. To address these challenges, we developed a versatile platform where end-functionalized polymer conjugates are 3D printed into well-defined patterns. The end groups on the conjugate become displayed on the surface during fabrication to generate functionalized scaffolds in a single step without affecting bulk scaffold morphology. Here, we synthesized peptide-modified polymer conjugates bearing two different amino acid sequences: (1) the canonical cell adhesion motif RGDS or (2) its negative control RGES. The resulting peptide-polymer conjugates were 3D printed into scaffolds displaying one or both peptides. Peptide concentration was controlled by changing the conjugate concentration in the “ink” prior to 3D printing. Separate printer heads were used to print both peptide-polymer conjugates into the same scaffold in alternating patterns. Cells seeded on these dual-peptide scaffolds preferentially attached and spread on RGDS fibers compared to RGES fibers, illustrating how spatial functionalization can be used to influence local cell behavior at the fiber level in a single 3D-printed construct. Ongoing and future work exploit this strategy to fabricate multicomponent biomaterials that mimic the spatial properties found in native tissues to support functional regeneration.

End-functionalized polymer conjugates for spatially organized 3D-printed biomaterials

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.