Solvent-cast 3D printing with molecular weight polymer blends to decouple effects of scaffold architecture and mechanical properties on mesenchymal stromal cell fate.

The biochemical and physical properties of a scaffold can be tailored to elicit specific cellular responses. However, it is challenging to decouple their individual effects on cell-material interactions. Here, we solvent-cast 3D printed different ratios of high and low molecular weight (MW) poly(caprolactone) (PCL) to fabricate scaffolds with significantly different stiffnesses without affecting other properties.

Fabricating spatially functionalized 3D-printed scaffolds for osteochondral tissue engineering.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of biodegradable polymers has rapidly become a popular approach to create scaffolds for tissue engineering. This technique enables fabrication of complex architectures and layer-by-layer spatial control of multiple components with high resolution. The resulting scaffolds can also present distinct chemical groups or bioactive cues on the surface to guide cell behavior.

Interlayer bonding strength of 3D printed PEEK specimens.

Recent advances in extrusion-based filament 3D printing technology enable the processability of high-performance polymers. Poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) is an important group of high-performance polymer that has been widely used in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical applications. The interlayer bonding strength of 3D printed PEEK is crucial for load-bearing applications, yet studies on 3D printed PEEK are sparse due to processing challenges.