Biodegradable Polylactide Supraparticle Powders with Functional Additives for Biomedical Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

Additive manufacturing, in particular powder bed-based fabrication processes hold promise to revolutionize biomedical engineering for the ability to provide customized, functional implants, for example as bone replacement materials. However, providing functional powder particles that unify material requirements for biodegradable and bioactive biomaterials and process requirements to enable successful powder bed fusion remains an unmet challenge. Here, a supraparticle-based approach to create biodegradable poly(lactic acid) and composite powders for the additive manufacturing of bone replacement materials is introduced. Colloidal binary Ca-SiO 2 glasses and hydroxyapatite are incorporated as bioactive functional additives to support the formation of bone-like calcium phosphate. The supraparticle powders are prepared by a scalable spraydrying process, which offers control of particle size, shape, and composition. All process-relevant powder characteristics are analyzed as a function of composition and structure, including flowability, thermal, and melt rheological properties. The optimized supraparticle powders are successfully used in the process of laser powder bed fusion of polymers to prepare macroscopic specimens via additive manufacturing. It is demonstrated that the material combination of the composites provides relevant functional properties, including biodegradation and bioactivity. The process provides a flexible and adjustable toolbox for the design of functional powders toward biomedical additive manufacturing.

Versatile Mesoporous Microblocks Prepared by Pattern‐Induced Cracking of Colloidal Films

“…We conceptually demonstrated the preparation of anti-counterfeiting films by inserting colored microblocks randomly rotated in microwells, the separation of desired chemicals by using different electro-static interactions with microblocks, and the elimination of undesired chemicals by the photocatalytic effect after separation. Compared to other methods used to produce microparticles, such as microfluidic and spray-drying approaches, [15,19,22,23] the proposed method has advantages such as excellent control of sizes and shapes of particles with multiple functions and good uniformity. Environmentally friendly methods of producing multifunctional versatile mesoporous microscale fragments can be used in various fields, such as catalytic processes, biomedical engineering, energy, and display devices.…”

“…Mesoporous supraparticles, which have a 3D structure through assembly of nanoparticles (NPs), have attracted great attention as sustainable materials because they can utilize the NP functionality as well as structural features. [ 1–6 ] They have potential uses in various fields, such as catalysis, [ 7–9 ] energy conversion, [ 6,10,11 ] environmental purification, [ 12–14 ] biomedical applications [ 15 ] and smart communication. [ 16–18 ] To fabricate supraparticles of a uniform size, spray‐drying process, [ 15,19 ] self‐assembly with an emulsion, [ 20,21 ] or use of microfluidic devices [ 22,23 ] were suggested.…”

“…[ 1–6 ] They have potential uses in various fields, such as catalysis, [ 7–9 ] energy conversion, [ 6,10,11 ] environmental purification, [ 12–14 ] biomedical applications [ 15 ] and smart communication. [ 16–18 ] To fabricate supraparticles of a uniform size, spray‐drying process, [ 15,19 ] self‐assembly with an emulsion, [ 20,21 ] or use of microfluidic devices [ 22,23 ] were suggested. These solvent‐based methods are suitable for mass production; however, they require additional stabilizers or emulsifiers and entail waste problems after processing.…”

Trendbericht: Makromolekulare Chemie 2023

“…47) Die additive Fertigung von biomedizini-schen Materialien nutzten auch Vogel und Team, die mit Pulversintern bioaktive und bioabbaubare Polylactidkomposite herstellten. 48) Ein Implantatpolymergitter basierend auf Poly ester ether ure than entwickelten Lendlein, Ma und Mitarbeitende: Es gestattet die Infiltration durch Makrophagen und 46) könnte daher nützlich sein, um die Folgen von Herzinfarkten zu behandeln. 49) Deutlich steifere Doppelnetzwerkhydrogele basierend auf Poly(2-oxazolin) und Poly(acrylsäure) entwickelten Tiller und Team; sie erhielten Materialien mit knorpelähnlichen mechanischen Eigenschaften.…”

Communicating Supraparticles to Enable Perceptual, Information‐Providing Matter

“…Also, the first examples of applying SPs via additive manufacturing processes were achieved. [160,190] Comparing these few examples with the variety of established methods for integrating powder-based additives into diverse materials, one can state that the integration of CSPs is still in its infancy. Therefore, we want to encourage the SP, material science, and chemical engineering communities to study the incorporation of SPs and in particular CSPs into materials with the ultimate goal to achieve the initially outlined objectives (Figure 6a).…”