Highly Elastic, Biodegradable Polyester-Based Citrate Rubber for 3D Printing in Regenerative Engineering

作者：Amir Khan, Yonghui Ding, Rao Fu, Xinlong Wang, Maria Mendez-Santos, Shivakalyani Adepu, Cheng Sun, Guillermo A. Ameer · 发表于：ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c01486 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies、Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications、biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Highly elastic and 3D-printable degradable elastomers are advantageous for many biomedical applications. Herein, we report the synthesis of a biodegradable citrate rubber poly(tetrahydrofuran- co -citrate- co -hydroxyl telechelic natural rubber) (PTCR) using citric acid, poly(tetrahydrofuran), and hydroxyl telechelic natural rubber. The citrate rubber PTCR is methacrylated to synthesize a prepolymer methacrylated-PTCR (mPTCR) that can be used to fabricate bioresorbable scaffolds via 3D printing using micro-continuous liquid interface production. Polymers were chemically characterized via NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, DSC, and TGA and mechanically characterized via tensile testing and crimping. The addition of rubber improved the elasticity of PTCR (658 ± 68% for dry and 415 ± 45% for swollen films) significantly compared with its nonrubber-based citrate copolymer, i.e., poly(tetrahydrofuran- co -citrate) (PTC) (550 ± 51% for dry and 88 ± 10% for swollen films). Also, the mechanical strength of PTCR reached as high as 0.8 ± 0.06 MPa after the successful addition of rubber into PTC, which had a tensile strength of 0.55 ± 0.04 MPa. Notably, the 3D-printed vascular scaffold of mPTCR demonstrated excellent mechanical competence in crimping and expansion, which is necessary for clinical use. The percent diameter recovery of mPTCR vascular scaffolds (89.4 ± 1.1%) was higher than that of its nonrubber version, i.e., methacryla...