Gradient versus End-Capped Degradable Polymer Sequence Variations Result in Stiff to Elastic Photochemically...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Additive manufacturing enables complex scaffold design for tissue engineering.
• Limited material options hinder clinical translation of 3D printed scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel poly(propylene fumarate-co-propylene succinate) copolymers.
• To utilize continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) 3D printing with thiol-ene chemistry for scaffold fabrication.
• To tune mechanical properties and degradation rates of 3D printed constructs.

Main Methods:

• One-pot and sequential ring-opening copolymerization for polymer synthesis.
• Continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) photochemical 3D printing.
• Thiol-ene photopolymerization chemistry.
• Mechanical testing (tensile) and hydrolytic degradation studies.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized poly(propylene fumarate-co-propylene succinate) copolymers.
• Achieved rapid 3D printing of precise scaffolds using CLIP and thiol-ene chemistry.
• Demonstrated tunable Young's modulus over two orders of magnitude (0.6-110 MPa).
• Exhibited tunable degradation rates under hydrolytic conditions.
• Materials lacked a yield point under tension.

Conclusions:

• Novel poly(propylene fumarate-co-propylene succinate)s are suitable for 3D printing tissue engineering scaffolds.
• CLIP 3D printing with thiol-ene chemistry offers advantages in speed and precision.
• Tunable mechanical properties and degradation rates are achievable through polymer design and formulation.