Digital Light 3D Printed Bioresorbable and NIR-Responsive Devices with Photothermal and Shape-Memory Functions

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Medical Device Manufacturing

Background:

• Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing offers high precision for custom medical devices.
• Developing suitable photopolymerizable materials remains a challenge for clinical translation.
• Desired material properties include biocompatibility, biodegradability, elasticity, and therapeutic function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a novel multifunctional material system for DLP 3D printing.
• To investigate the properties of a gold nanorod and polyester copolymer composite.
• To demonstrate the material's responsiveness to near-infrared (NIR) light for therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a composite material using gold nanorods and polyester copolymer.
• Characterization of the material's photothermal properties and response to NIR light.
• Evaluation of NIR light-triggered shape transformation for medical device application.

Main Results:

• The composite material exhibits robust NIR responsiveness and a stable photothermal effect, inducing time-dependent cell death.
• NIR light successfully triggered shape transformation in DLP-printed devices.
• Facilitated insertion and expansion of a DLP-printed stent ex vivo was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanoparticle-polymer composite is a promising multifunctional material for therapeutic medical devices.
• NIR light-triggerable photothermal effects and shape transformation offer novel functionalities.
• This strategy advances the design of advanced medical devices using DLP 3D printing.