Photocurable Composition for 3D Printing Scaffolds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D printing technologies for tissue engineering scaffolds face challenges in achieving high resolution while ensuring material permeability and cell adhesion, particularly due to limitations in the choice of photocurable resins that are either not water-permeable or require surface modification for improved cell interaction.
Innovation Solution
A photocurable composition comprising functionalized gelatin, decellularized extracellular matrix, and poly(ε-caprolactone) in formamide solvent with specific photoinitiators, which allows for high-resolution printing and enhanced permeability, stability, and cell adhesion by controlling crosslinking density and viscosity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If GelMA is dissolved in aqueous solution at low polymer concentration to prevent temperature-dependent gelation, then the resin allows free flow for 3D printing, but the crosslinking density decreases and resolution of resulting scaffolds is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from water to formamide, which has a higher boiling point and different solvation properties. This allows the resin to maintain appropriate viscosity for printing while enabling higher polymer concentrations that achieve sufficient crosslinking density and resolution without premature gelation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite resin system combining GelMA with formamide solvent and specific photoinitiators. This composite formulation achieves synergistic effects where formamide prevents temperature-dependent gelation while allowing higher polymer concentrations, and the photoinitiator system ensures proper crosslinking during printing
2Manufacturing precision
If PCL-MA is used as a photocurable material, then high-resolution 3D structures can be printed without solvents, but the material is not water-permeable and requires surface modification for cell adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges GelMA and PCL-MA into a hybrid resin system where GelMA provides water permeability and cell adhesion properties while PCL-MA contributes to structural integrity and printability. The combination achieves both high resolution printing and biological functionality without requiring surface modification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent formulates a composite resin containing both GelMA and PCL-MA components with formamide solvent. This composite material integrates the hydrophilic, bioactive properties of GelMA with the structural properties of PCL-MA, enabling simultaneous achievement of permeability, cell adhesion, and printability
3Ease of operation
If volatile solvents are used in the photocurable composition, then the resin can be formulated with appropriate viscosity, but solvent evaporation during printing distorts the process and varies polymer concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from volatile solvents to formamide, which has a high boiling point (210°C). This parameter change eliminates evaporation issues during printing while maintaining appropriate resin viscosity, ensuring consistent polymer concentration and reliable printing process throughout the fabrication
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition enables the fabrication of scaffolds with fine 3D features that are permeable to molecular transport, supporting cell growth and differentiation, and maintaining structural integrity during the 3D printing process.
Implementation Method 1
Physically crosslinked GelMA hydrogels can be stabilized by covalent, free radical-initiated photocrosslinking of methacryloyl groups
Implementation Method 2
A particular appropriate photoinitiator is a radical forming photoinitiator such as phenylphosphinate, hydroxy ketone, or camphorquinone
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a photocurable composition for 3D printing, comprising a) at least one photocurable prepolymer chosen from the group consisting of functionalized gelatin bearing a first functional group and functionalized decellularized extracellular matrix bearing a second functional group; b) at least one solvent, the solvent being formamide; and c) at least one photoinitiator.