Melt Electrowriting of Elastic Scaffolds Using PEOT-PBT Multi-block Copolymer

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Additive Manufacturing
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Melt electrowriting (MEW) is a key technique for creating tissue engineering scaffolds.
• The range of processable polymers for MEW is currently limited.
• Expanding material options is crucial for advancing MEW applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the printability and characteristics of poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)-poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT-PBT) using MEW.
• To evaluate the thermal stability of PEOT-PBT during the printing process.
• To assess the potential of MEW-printed PEOT-PBT scaffolds for soft tissue regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Investigated printability of PEOT-PBT, a thermoplastic elastomer, via melt electrowriting.
• Assessed thermal stability at 195°C in nitrogen; printed mesh-like and semi-random scaffold designs.
• Characterized scaffold mechanical properties (Young's modulus, yield strain) and performed biological assessments with NIH-3T3 cells.

Main Results:

• PEOT-PBT demonstrated thermal stability for over 60 minutes at 195°C.
• MEW-printed PEOT-PBT scaffolds exhibited higher yield strain and lower Young's modulus than polycaprolactone controls.
• NIH-3T3 cells showed good viability and metabolic activity, with significant cell migration and pore bridging observed on PEOT-PBT mesh scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• Melt electrowritten PEOT-PBT scaffolds are mechanically suitable for soft tissue applications.
• PEOT-PBT supports robust cellular infiltration and tissue formation.
• PEOT-PBT shows significant potential as a versatile material for advanced tissue engineering scaffolds via MEW.