4D printing of shape memory polybutylene succinate/polylactic acid (PBS/PLA) and its potential applications

4D printing adds time as the fourth dimension to 3D printing, which has been actively explored in the biomedical field to develop patient-specific implants due to the ease of manufacturing complex architectures and the capability of dynamic transformations. However, the 4D printing filament used for fused deposition modeling (FDM) is quite limited. Here, 4D printing shape memory polybutylene succinate/polylactic acid (PBS/PLA) composite filament is prepared. The mechanical properties, surface morphology, and shape memory perfor-mances of the printed specimens are investigated. Besides, graphene oxide functionalized PBS/PLA shows attractive photothermal properties under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, and a dynamic, remote, and accurate controlled 4D transformation of a porous scaffold is exhibited. As the first demonstration of 4D printing filament of PBS/PLA for FDM, this work shows its promising application prospects in tissue engineering, photothermal therapy, etc. Additionally, NIR-triggered 4D transformation solves the problem that the conventional thermal-trigger transformation process is difficult to control.

Automated summary

4D printing, utilizing time as the fourth dimension, has great potential in biomedical applications for developing patient-specific implants. This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of shape memory PBS/PLA composite filament for FDM, along with the photothermal properties of graphene oxide functionalized PBS/PLA under NIR irradiation. The NIR-triggered 4D transformation of porous scaffold shows promising application prospects in tissue engineering and photothermal therapy.