Open-Source Selective Laser Sintering (OpenSLS) of Nylon and Biocompatible Polycaprolactone

Area of Science:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Biomaterials Science
• 3D Printing Technology

Background:

• Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) offers potential for complex 3D structure fabrication but is limited by high system costs.
• Diverse materials, including biomaterials, can be used in SLS, but accessibility remains a barrier for researchers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, open-source SLS system (OpenSLS) for wider scientific adoption.
• To demonstrate the fabrication capabilities of OpenSLS using nylon and polycaprolactone (PCL).
• To investigate PCL scaffold suitability for bone tissue engineering and cell studies.

Main Methods:

• Development of an open-source, low-cost Selective Laser Sintering system (OpenSLS).
• Fabrication of nylon structures with sub-millimeter features and PCL into macroporous lattices.
• Application of a vapor-smoothing technique to reduce surface roughness and enhance mechanical properties of PCL.
• Assessment of cell adhesion, survival, and differentiation on PCL scaffolds.

Main Results:

• OpenSLS successfully fabricated complex nylon and PCL structures, including diamond lattices.
• Vapor-smoothing significantly reduced PCL surface roughness, improving elastic modulus and yield stress.
• PCL scaffolds supported human mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, survival, and osteogenic differentiation.
• OpenSLS demonstrated potential for creating PCL scaffolds for bone tissue engineering research.

Conclusions:

• The OpenSLS system provides an accessible platform for researchers to explore laser sintering and fabricate complex 3D structures.
• The developed PCL scaffolds, particularly after vapor smoothing, show promise for bone tissue engineering applications.
• OpenSLS facilitates the study of laser sintering and the creation of biomaterial scaffolds for cell-based research.