The promise of 3D printing in further advancing the development of complex artificial tissues, with the eventual goal of artificial organ production, is hampered by the lack of printable soft materials. There is a need for printable biomaterials which can undergo controlled degradation and provide highly specific chemical cues to a surrounding environment in three dimensions. A part of this problem is due to a dearth of synthetic approaches for the development of new printable soft biomaterial platforms with sufficient room for customization. We present a new approach to the synthesis, rheological assessment, and ultimate printability of a low-modulus and initiator-free polyester platform with tunable degradation, hydrophobicity, and mechanical properties. This polyester platform undergoes a well-controlled crosslinking-mediated gelation upon UV irradiation at 350nm, using an embedded chromophore and naturally derived starting reagents chosen for their low toxicity in biological environments. Additionally, this platform allows a modular approach to functionality and ligand attachment with full spatial control. We are thus able to identify and address major technical concerns involved with accurately printing “soft” biomaterials, including hydrogels. This is achieved by elucidating the dynamic interplay between rheological phenomena, material behavior upon curing, die-swell, back-pressure, surface tension and adhesion/relaxation phenomena observed throughout the 3D printing process. Final 3D printed structures are analyzed using optical microscopy, micro-computerized tomography (microCT), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Design and comprehensive evaluation of 3D printable initiator-free polyesters with modular functionality and tunable degradation

250th National Meeting (2015)

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