Diacrylated biodegradable copolymers for photo-initiated 3D printing available from PolySciTech

PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc (www.polyscitech.com) provides a wide array of biodegradable polymers including vinyl modified block copolymers which can be used as macromers. Examples of this include PLGA-PEG-PLGA-diacrylate, PLA-diacrylate, and others available through our reactive intermediate series (PolyVivo AI***). These polymers can be dissolved in an appropriate solvent or blended in a melt along with an appropriate photo-initiator (Irgacure or other) and 3D printed under illuminated conditions to create a chemically crosslinked structure. This soft-printing technique at low temperature conditions allows for the potential of printing living cells or other biologics directly into the printed matrix.  Historically, researchers have been limited to very few commercially available magromers, such as poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, for this application. This macromere prints well but has limited cell interaction and poorly controlled degradability. The use of biodegradable macromers with polyester blocks can allow for more controlled degradability. A recent review article highlights the potential for printing living cells. Read more: Park, Jeong Hun, Jinah Jang, Jung-Seob Lee, and Dong-Woo Cho. "Three-Dimensional Printing of Tissue/Organ Analogues Containing Living Cells." Annals of biomedical engineering (2016): 1-15. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10439-016-1611-9

“Abstract: The technical advances of three-dimensional (3D) printing in the field of tissue engineering have enabled the creation of 3D living tissue/organ analogues. Diverse 3D tissue/organ printing techniques with computer-aided systems have been developed and used to dispose living cells together with biomaterials and supporting biochemicals as pre-designed 3D tissue/organ models. Furthermore, recent advances in bio-inks, which are printable hydrogels with living cell encapsulation, have greatly enhanced the versatility of 3D tissue/organ printing. Here, we introduce 3D tissue/organ printing techniques and biomaterials that have been developed and widely used thus far. We also review a variety of applications in an attempt to repair or replace the damaged or defective tissue/organ, and develop the in vitro tissue/organ models. The potential challenges are finally discussed from the technical perspective of 3D tissue/organ printing. Keywords: 3D tissue/organ printing Bio-inks 3D tissue/organ analogues Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine 3D in vitro tissue/organ models.”