Additive manufacturing of photosensitive hydrogels for tissue engineering applications

Additive manufacturing technologies are being used to fabricate scaffolds with controlled architecture for tissue engineering applications. These technologies combined with computer-aided design systems enable to produce three-dimensional structures layer-by-layer in a multitude of materials. Actual prediction of the effective mechanical properties of scaffolds produced by Additive manufacturing systems, is very important for tissue engineering applications. One of the existing computer based techniques for scaffold design is topological optimisation. The goal of topological optimisation is to find the best use of material for a body that is subjected to either a single load or a multiple load distribution. This paper proposes a topological optimisation scheme based on existing micro-CT data in order to obtain the ideal topological architectures of scaffolds, maximising its mechanical behaviour under shear stress solicitations. This approach is based on micro-CT data of real biological tissues to create the loading (shear stress) and constraint surfaces of the scaffold during the topological optimisation process. This particular topological optimisation scheme uses the surface boundaries to produce novel models with different characteristics, which are different from the initial micro-CT models. This approach enables to produce valid biomimetic scaffold topologies for tissue engineering applications.

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Additive Manufacturing Techniques for Fabrication of Bone Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications

10.21926/rpm.2003021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 1-41

Author(s):

Babak Jahani ◽

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Xinnan Wang ◽

Amanda Brooks ◽

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...

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Additive Manufacturing ◽

Engineering Applications ◽

Bone Scaffolds ◽

Manufacturing Techniques

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Novel chitosan-poly(vinyl acetate) biomaterial suitable for additive manufacturing and bone tissue engineering applications

Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers ◽

10.1177/08839115211043279 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088391152110432

Author(s):

Jaundrie Fourie ◽

Francois Taute ◽

Louis du Preez ◽

Deon de Beer

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Additive Manufacturing ◽

Mechanical Stability ◽

Cell Attachment ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Great Promise ◽

Engineering Applications ◽

Swelling Properties ◽

Chitosan Biopolymer ◽

Biopolymer Blends

Chitosan, a biocompatible and biodegradable natural polymer, offers great promise as a biomaterial for tissue engineering applications. Chitosan scaffolds have previously been fabricated using additive manufacturing techniques, however, the use of crosslinkers, weak mechanical stability and structural resolution remain problematic. In this study Chitosan-PVAc biopolymer blends were prepared using a non-organic solvent that can prepare a three-dimensional printable biopolymer in less time than conventional methods. Prepared films were characterised using SEM, FTIR and thermogravimetric analysis. Additionally, the swelling properties, biodegradability and printability of the scaffolds were also studied. The fabricated films were biodegradable within a 3-week period and showed controllable swelling properties. Results indicated no toxicity and cells attached onto films. Additionally, hydrogels showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and E.coli, which could potentially prevent implant related infections. Additive manufacturing simulation of PVAc composite 3% chitosan and PVAc composite 4% chitosan were able to produce a layered scaffold without using crosslinkers and therefore confirming printability. Cytocompabability were assessed using a resazurin assay and cell attachment. From these results, we concluded that the printable PVAc composite 3% chitosan and PVAc composite 4% chitosan biopolymer blends meet the requirements of a biomaterial and can potentially be used for biomedical implants.

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