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3D-printing of Urethane-based Photoelastomers for Vascular Tissue Regeneration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Stefan Baudis
Affiliation:
stefan.baudis@ias.tuwien.ac.at, Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry - Division Macromolecular Chemistry, Vienna, Austria
Thomas Pulka
Affiliation:
TGM Vienna, Wexstrasse 19-23, 1200 Vienna, Austria
Bernhard Steyrer
Affiliation:
TGM Vienna, Wexstrasse 19-23, 1200 Vienna, Austria
Harald Wilhelm
Affiliation:
harald.wilhelm@tgm.ac.at, TGM, Vienna, Austria
Guenter Weigel
Affiliation:
guenter.weigel@meduniwien.ac.at, Ludwig-Boltzmann Cluster for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
Helga Bergmeister
Affiliation:
helga.bergmeister@meduniwien.ac.at, Medical University of Vienna, Division of Biomedical Research, Vienna, Austria
Juergen Stampfl
Affiliation:
juergen.stampfl@tuwien.ac.at, Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Materials Science and Technology, Vienna, Austria
Robert Liska
Affiliation:
robert.liska@tuwien.ac.at, Vienna University of Technology, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry - Division Macromolecular Chemistry, Vienna, Austria
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Abstract

The mechanical properties of materials designated for vascular tissue replacement are of crucial importance. The elastic modulus, the tensile strength as well as the suture tear resistance have to be adjusted. Our approach is to use photopolymers for artificial vascular grafts. Via the layer-by-layer photopolymerization of suitable resin formulations as performed in additive manufacturing (AM) very complex structures are realizable. Hence AM offer the possibility to create cellular structures within the artificial grafts that might favor the ingrowth of new tissue. Commercially available urethane acrylates (UA) were chosen as base monomers since urethane groups are known to have good cell-adhesion behavior and poly-UAs show adequate mechanical performance. The mechanical properties of the photoelastomers can be tailored by addition of reactive diluents (e.g. 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, HEA) and thiols (e.g. 3,6 dioxa-1,8-octane-dithiol) as chain transfer agents to comply with the mechanical properties of natural blood vessels. To examine the suture tear resistance a new testing method has been developed. Finally, a formulation containing 30 wt% UA and 70 wt% HEA complies with the mechanical properties of natural blood vessels, shows good biocompatibility in in-vitro tests and was successfully 3D-printed with digital light processing AM.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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