Hydrogel Polyester Scaffolds via Direct-Ink-Writing of Ad Hoc Designed Photocurable Macromonomer

Abstract

Synthetic, degradable macromonomers have been developed to serve as ink for 3D printing technologies based on direct-ink-writing. The macromonomers are purposely designed to be cross-linkable under the radical mechanism, to impart hydrophilicity to the final material, and to have rheological properties matching the printer’s requirements. The suitable viscosity enables the ink to be printed at room temperature, in absence of organic solvents, and to be cross-linked to manufacture soft 3D scaffolds that show no indirect cytotoxicity and have a hydration capacity of up to 100% their mass and a compressive modulus in the range of 0.4–2 MPa.

Keywords

• additive manufacturing
• degradable polyesters
• soft scaffolds
• hydrophilic materials