A Versatile Disorder-to-Order Technology to Upgrade Polymers into High-Performance Bioinspired Materials

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Biodegradable polymers are widely used in medicine but lack mechanical strength for load-bearing applications.
• Improving the mechanical performance of biodegradable polymers is crucial for advancing tissue engineering and biomedical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel technology for fabricating high-performance biodegradable polymer fibers.
• To enhance the strength, elastic modulus, and degradation properties of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers.

Main Methods:

• A versatile disorder-to-order technology (VDOT) inspired by bone superstructure was employed.
• Self-reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) fibers were manufactured using the VDOT method.
• Mechanical properties (tensile strength, elastic modulus) and degradation behavior were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The VDOT method produced PLA fibers with significantly enhanced tensile strength (336.1 MPa) and elastic modulus (4.1 GPa).
• These properties were 5.2 and 2.1 times greater, respectively, than traditional PLA fibers.
• The novel fibers demonstrated superior strength retention during degradation and exceeded the strength of bone and some medical metals.

Conclusions:

• The VDOT is a versatile technology for producing high-performance, bioinspired polymer fibers.
• These advanced biodegradable fibers offer improved mechanical properties and controlled degradation for biomedical applications.
• The technology facilitates the industrial-scale production of superior biomedical polymers.