Melt Electrowriting of Complex 3D Anatomically Relevant Scaffolds

Polymers for Melt Electrowriting

“…Using the double-component collector consisting of a conductive and a nonconductive material combination, the PLA part collected the deposited fibers without causing electrical field disruptions and furthermore, enabled to possibility to fabricate patient-specific designs due to the advantage of being 3D printed ( Figure 7B). [54] Using this collector approach, the fabrication of an aortic wall including three aortic sinuses was possible and proved that MEW can be used to fabricate nonuniform complex designs. [54] Another approach to print medical-grade PCL in anatomical relevant structures with nonflat (wedge-and curved-shaped) geometries was demonstrated with different collector substrates for nonconductive materials like magnesium phosphate (MgP) and PCL, as well as on conductive materials like GelMA and Al.…”

“…[54] Using this collector approach, the fabrication of an aortic wall including three aortic sinuses was possible and proved that MEW can be used to fabricate nonuniform complex designs. [54] Another approach to print medical-grade PCL in anatomical relevant structures with nonflat (wedge-and curved-shaped) geometries was demonstrated with different collector substrates for nonconductive materials like magnesium phosphate (MgP) and PCL, as well as on conductive materials like GelMA and Al. [55] Comparing the different collector substrates, the conductive materials did result in bigger fiber diameters and higher scaffolds, as well as, for the first layer, a more flattened (ellipsoidal) fiber shape.…”

“…Since MEW is based on the EHD principle stabilizing the polymer jet [6] and therefore enabling the fabrication of fibers in the micrometer range due to a constant electrical field, [50] it also limits the fabrication of uniform fibers onto more complex, nonuniform collectors. [54,55] This technical boundary is due to the interaction of the collector with the EHD working principle leading to jet instabilities and limiting the accurate fiber placement. [54,55] One approach to overcome these limitations is shown by using a hybrid collector consisting of an aluminum (Al) mandrel in combination with a 3D-printed PLA tube.…”

“…[54,55] This technical boundary is due to the interaction of the collector with the EHD working principle leading to jet instabilities and limiting the accurate fiber placement. [54,55] One approach to overcome these limitations is shown by using a hybrid collector consisting of an aluminum (Al) mandrel in combination with a 3D-printed PLA tube. [54] Compared to a full Al mandrel and a full conductive combination of Al and titanium, the Al-PLA setup enabled a consistent electrical field strength.…”

“…[54,55] One approach to overcome these limitations is shown by using a hybrid collector consisting of an aluminum (Al) mandrel in combination with a 3D-printed PLA tube. [54] Compared to a full Al mandrel and a full conductive combination of Al and titanium, the Al-PLA setup enabled a consistent electrical field strength. Using the double-component collector consisting of a conductive and a nonconductive material combination, the PLA part collected the deposited fibers without causing electrical field disruptions and furthermore, enabled to possibility to fabricate patient-specific designs due to the advantage of being 3D printed ( Figure 7B).…”