A team of researchers has developed a new class of photopolymerizable inks specifically for 3D printing of elastic, strong and biodegradable objects. The inks are based on poly(β-aminoester) diacrylates (PBAEs) and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP). These materials enable the production of medical devices with customizable mechanical and chemical properties suitable for use in the human body.
Research focuses on the production of prototypes for oral drug delivery systems. The developers design these devices to be soft and stretchy enough to be packaged in capsules, yet strong enough to withstand the stresses of the gastrointestinal tract. They also ensure that the devices biodegrade completely within the average intestinal transit time.
A decisive advantage of the new materials is their high adaptability. Researchers regulate the mechanical properties and the rate of degradation by adjusting the mixing ratio of polymer and NVP. As a result, the printed objects degrade either within a few hours or over a longer period of time, depending on the application.
Production is carried out using the Digital Light Processing (DLP) process, which enables precise and high-resolution structures. The liquid ink is polymerized by light, allowing the desired properties to be set. This technology can be used to produce complex geometries that conventional manufacturing methods cannot achieve.
The project could set new standards for disposable medical products, particularly for the targeted release of drugs in the human body. The research shows that the combination of strength, elasticity and rapid biodegradability is important for a wide range of biomedical applications.
Further details can be found in the paper “Photopolymerization Inks for 3D Printing of Elastic, Strong, and Biodegradable Oral Delivery Devices”. The authors are Yulia Yuts, Marilena Bohley, Adva Krivitsky, Yinyin Bao, Zhi Luo and Jean-Christophe Leroux.
