Independent Evaluation of Poly-Med’s Bioresorbable Medical Grade 3D Printing Filaments

Poly-Med has recently been in collaboration with Queensland University of Technology to promote research of our unique, bioresorbable medical grade 3D printing filaments. The latest publication, authored by Mina Mohseni, Professor Dietmar Hutmacher, and Dr. Nathan Castro, highlights performance of these filaments in fused filament fabrication (FFF) additive manufactured (AM) tissue scaffolding. Specifically, this research sought to characterize material properties and evaluate potential use in both hard and soft tissue engineering applications.

As Mohseni et al. notes, additive manufacturing has established itself as an advantageous method for fabrication of unique and physiologically relevant structures to support tissue growth. Equally important in selecting the correct scaffolding structure, choosing the appropriate material is also vital for successful tissue ingrowth. Currently, Poly-Med offers four medical grade filaments for 3D printing: Lactoprene® 100M, Max-Prene® 955, Dioxaprene® 100M, and Caproprene™ 100M. The bioresorbable nature of these filaments make them ideal candidates for tissue scaffolding applications and use in regenerative medicine.

Through extensive physiochemical analysis of these four filaments, Mohseni et al. concludes that all filaments are viable options for tissue scaffolding, with each material having unique properties to fit a range of soft and hard tissue applications. For example, it was noted that Dioxaprene® 100M exhibits softness and flexibility, making it an ideal choice for soft tissue engineering. Caproprene™ 100M displays similar mechanical properties as those of Dioxaprene® 100M, however Caproprene™ 100M strength and mass loss occurs over a much longer time frame. Thus, while Dioxaprene® 100M and Caproprene™ 100M are both soft tissue-oriented, either can be selected depending on the desired degradation timeline.

For hard tissue applications, materials with a higher stiffness are often preferred. To this effect, Poly-Med offers Max-Prene® 955 and Lactoprene® 100M, which both exhibit an elastic modulus suitable for hard tissue regeneration, with values in the range of 63-89 MPa. In fact, elastic modulus and other mechanical properties of these materials can be tuned by adjusting scaffold pore size, % infill, which Mohseni et al. further details in the article.

Poly-Med offers four unique bioresorbable filaments for 3D printing, each with its own niche and range of potential applications. Mohseni et al. has provided an extensive review of the physiochemical properties of these filaments that can help guide any device manufacturer in the right direction when determining which material is best for a given product. As always, feel free to contact Poly-Med for assistance with any aspect of additive manufacturing – we are here to be a creative partner as you bring your solution to market. Contact us for more information regarding our bioresorbable 3D printing filaments.

Brad Johns, M.S.

To see the original Queensland University of Technology evaluation: http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/10/1