Journal
BIOMATERIALS
Volume 31, Issue 27, Pages 6909-6916Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.05.068
Keywords
Rapid prototyping; Stereolithography; Microstructure; Tissue engineering scaffold; Three-dimensional printing
Funding
- European Union [FP6-500465]
- NanoNed
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The technologies employed for the preparation of conventional tissue engineering scaffolds restrict the materials choice and the extent to which the architecture can be designed. Here we show the versatility of stereolithography with respect to materials and freedom of design. Porous scaffolds are designed with computer software and built with either a poly(D,L-lactide)-based resin or a poly(D,L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone)-based resin. Characterisation of the scaffolds by micro-computed tomography shows excellent reproduction of the designs. The mechanical properties are evaluated in compression, and show good agreement with finite element predictions. The mechanical properties of scaffolds can be controlled by the combination of material and scaffold pore architecture. The presented technology and materials enable an accurate preparation of tissue engineering scaffolds with a large freedom of design, and properties ranging from rigid and strong to highly flexible and elastic. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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