With the advancement of new additive manufacturing technologies, 3D printing has potential for quicker and more cost-effective production of customized medical devices, implants, and prosthetics. Yet most current 3D printing feedstock materials lack the combination of biocompatible, rheological, and thermomechanical properties required in the biomedical field. Work by our group showed that the nanocomposite, poly(N-vinyl carbazole)-graphene oxide (PVK-GO), may address this issue due to the ability of PVK to improve the dispersibility and antimicrobial properties of GO. Incorporating low concentrations of PVK-GO into commercial feedstock materials, such as silicone rubber, can fulfill the need for biocompatible and customizable medical devices. With the purpose of preparing a 3D printable biomaterial, the present study proposes a facile yet effective methodology for the uniform dispersion of PVK-GO nanocomposites in a commercial silicone rubber. In a two-step fabrication process, PVK-GO was first prepared by a solution mixing method. It was then incorporated into the silicone rubber polymer matrix to achieve a uniform dispersion of nanofillers and thus, optimal antimicrobial and thermomechanical properties. Once prepared, rheological properties and printing parameters were optimized to attain the best resolution of prints. This study presents results for the optimization of both the fabrication and printability of a commercial silicone rubber containing PVK-GO nanocomposites for direct ink write (DIW) 3D printing. Additionally, a comprehensive structure-property relationship analysis is presented of the printed samples via results obtained from compositional, thermomechanical, and antimicrobial characterizations. Implications for the flexible fabrication of cost-effective medical devices in the healthcare industry will be discussed.

Preparation of poly(N-vinyl carbazole)-graphene oxide for dispersion in 3D printed silicone composites and evaluation of suitability for biomedical applications

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