4D printing smart biomedical scaffolds with novel soybean oil epoxidized acrylate

TLDR

Photocurable, biocompatible liquid resins are highly desired for 3D stereolithography‑based bioprinting. The study aimed to solidify a renewable soybean oil epoxidized acrylate into smart, highly biocompatible scaffolds using 3D laser printing to support growth of multipotent human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Porous scaffolds were fabricated by adjusting printer infill density, while laser frequency and printing speed controlled the polymer’s surface structure during 3D laser printing. Shape‑memory tests showed the scaffold fixed a temporary shape at –18 °C and fully recovered at 37 °C, and cytotoxicity assays revealed higher hMSC adhesion and proliferation than PEGDA and comparable to PLA and PCL, indicating strong potential for 4D printing applications.

Abstract

Photocurable, biocompatible liquid resins are highly desired for 3D stereolithography based bioprinting. Here we solidified a novel renewable soybean oil epoxidized acrylate, using a 3D laser printing technique, into smart and highly biocompatible scaffolds capable of supporting growth of multipotent human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Porous scaffolds were readily fabricated by simply adjusting the printer infill density; superficial structures of the polymerized soybean oil epoxidized acrylate were significantly affected by laser frequency and printing speed. Shape memory tests confirmed that the scaffold fixed a temporary shape at -18 °C and fully recovered its original shape at human body temperature (37 °C), which indicated the great potential for 4D printing applications. Cytotoxicity analysis proved that the printed scaffolds had significant higher hMSC adhesion and proliferation than traditional polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), and had no statistical difference from poly lactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL). This research is believed to significantly advance the development of biomedical scaffolds with renewable plant oils and advanced 3D fabrication techniques.