Antimicrobial 3D Porous Scaffolds Prepared by Additive Manufacturing and Breath Figures

Abstract

We describe herein a novel strategy for the fabrication of efficient 3D printed antibacterial scaffolds. For this purpose, both the surface topography as well as the chemical composition of 3D scaffolds fabricated by additive manufacturing were modified. The scaffolds were fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM) using high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) filaments. The surface of the objects was then topographically modified providing materials with porous surfaces by means of the Breath Figures approach. The strategy involves the immersion of the scaffold in a polymer solution during a precise period of time. This approach permitted the modification of the pore size varying the immersion time as well as the solution concentration. Moreover, by using polymer blend solutions of polystyrene and polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) and a quaternized polystyrene-b-poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PDMAEMAQ), the scaffolds were simultaneously chemically modified. The surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Finally, the biological response toward bacteria was explored. Porous surfaces prepared using quaternized PDMAEMA as well as those prepared using PAA confer antimicrobial activity to the films, i.e., were able to kill on contact Staphylococcus aureus employed as model bacteria.

Fabrication and Characterization of Flexible Medical-Grade TPU Filament for Fused Deposition Modeling 3DP Technology

“…al, objects printed with the use of FDM are significantly less toxic than SLA-printed parts for living organisms [19]. FDM has already been successfully used for printing biomedical devices [20,21]. Additionally, a fast-growing open-source community provides access to expert solutions and knowledge in the use of FDM 3DPs, which further reduces costs and facilitates the use of these devices.…”

Fabrication and Characterization of Flexible Medical-Grade TPU Filament for Fused Deposition Modeling 3DP Technology

“…al, objects printed with the use of FDM are significantly less toxic than SLA-printed parts for living organisms [16]. FDM has already been successfully used for printing biomedical devices [17,18]. Additionally, a fast-growing open-source community provides access to expert solutions and knowledge in the use of FDM 3DPs, which further reduces costs and facilitates the use of these devices.…”

Antimicrobial Polymers for Additive Manufacturing

“…In this context, an illustrative strategy of this approach was recently reported by Vargas-Alfredo et al [98] who reported a strategy that combines the use of high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) to fabricate 3D parts with surface functionalization methodologies to provide antimicrobial 3D objects. The scaffolds were first fabricated by FDM using commercially available HIPS filaments.…”