3D‐printed polymer nanocomposites with carbon quantum dots for enhanced properties and in situ monitoring of cardiovascular stents

Abstract

Nanocomposites are promising for manufacturing small diameter vascular biodegradable polymer-based stents (BDPSs) to obviate frequent ordeals of in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis by providing appropriate support for vasculature as well as tissue regeneration. Freeform (without any support), vascular-scale, small diameter (2 mm) tubular nanocomposites were fabricated using 3D printing based on fused filament fabrication (FFF). The nanocomposites were constructed using bioresorbable polylactic acid (PLA) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs). The3D-printing process of the PLA-CQD nanocomposites was optimized to deliver improved structural integrity as well as mechanical and biological properties for cardiovascular systems. The PLA-CQD composites demonstrated excellent processability, hydrophilicity, tensile strength, compressive strength, radial stability, and cell proliferation relative to pure PLA. The results show that the addition of CQDs enhances stent properties significantly, such as, composite hydrophilicity by about 25%, tensile strength by 24%, compressive strength by 66%, and cell proliferation by 50% compared to PLA alone.The results show that the combination of 3D printing with PLA-CQD nanocomposites could be a viable method to produce bioresorbable nanocomposites for cardiovasculatures with noninvasive imaging for monitoring composite condition and cell growth.

Carbon dots with tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications

“…CQDs could signicantly enhance stent features, including composite hydrophilicity by ∼25%, tensile strength by ∼24%, compressive strength by ∼66%, and cell proliferation by ∼50% compared to polylactic acid alone. 67 Yan et al 43 constructed nanobrous scaffolds for cardiac TE by incorporating p-phenylenediamine surface functionalized CQDs into silk broin-polylactic acid (CQDs-SF-PLA) scaffolds. Accordingly, the scaffolds with improved mechanical properties could be obtained.…”

“… 66 In addition, nanocomposites were fabricated utilizing bioresorbable polylactic acid and CQDs, showing attractive potential for noninvasive imaging and monitoring of composite conditions and cell growth. 67 The as-prepared 3D-printed nanocomposites with cell proliferation, tensile strength, outstanding processability, radial stability, hydrophilicity, and compressive strength could be deployed for in situ monitoring of cardiovascular stents. CQDs could significantly enhance stent features, including composite hydrophilicity by ∼25%, tensile strength by ∼24%, compressive strength by ∼66%, and cell proliferation by ∼50% compared to polylactic acid alone.…”

“…CQDs could significantly enhance stent features, including composite hydrophilicity by ∼25%, tensile strength by ∼24%, compressive strength by ∼66%, and cell proliferation by ∼50% compared to polylactic acid alone. 67 …”

Photoinduced polymer-confined CQDs for efficient photoluminescent 2D/3D printing applications

“…Among the latest applications of CQD/polymer composites, 2D or 3D printing of fluorescent materials has emerged as a promising tool for anti-counterfeiting labelling, 27,28 bioimaging, 29 energy harvesting 30 and sensing 31 technologies. Today, the most common 3D printing techniques used to print QD-loaded nanomaterials are fused filament fabrication, 32 direct ink writing 33 and photopolymerization-based methods. 34,35 Photopolymerization is particularly attractive owing to fast reaction rates, temporal and spatial control depending on the chosen irradiation intensity and wavelength, room temperature conditions and the absence of toxic solvents.…”