Four-order stiffness variation of laser-fabricated photopolymer biodegradable scaffolds by laser parameter modulation

Year: 2015

Authors: Farkas B., Romano I., Ceseracciu L., Diaspro A., Brandi F., Beke S.

Autors Affiliation: Department of Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy
Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: The effects of various fabrication parameters of our Mask Projection Excimer Laser StereoLithography (MPExSL) system were investigated. We demonstrate that laser parameters directly change the physical properties (stiffness, thermal degradation, and height/thickness) of the poly(propylene fumarate) (PFF) scaffold structures. The tested parameters were the number of pulses, fluence per pulse and laser repetition rate. We present a four-order tuning capability of MPExSL-fabricated structures\’ stiffness without altering the resin composition or using cumbersome post-treatment procedures. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry confirmed this tuning capability. Prototype-segmented scaffold designs are presented and analyzed to further expand the concept and exploit this in situ stiffness tuning capability of the scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

Journal/Review: MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS

Volume: 55      Pages from: 14  to: 21

More Information: This work has received funding support from the European Union (FP7-NMP-2013-EU-China) grant agreement no. 604263 (NEUROSCAFFOLDS). Ms. Lara Marini is acknowledged for the TGA and DSC measurements.
KeyWords: Biodegradability; Excimer laser; Poly(propylene fumarate); Scaffolds; Stereolithography
DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.05.054

Citations: 20
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