3D Printed PCU Scaffolds + PureCol

Publication Title:

3D Printing of High-Strength, Porous, Elastomeric Structures to Promote Tissue Integration of Implants

Advanced BioMatrix Products Used: 

PureCol^® Type I Collagen 

Type I Collagen Hydrogels eBrochure

How the products were used:

PureCol^® type I collagen was added to 3D printed polycarbonate urethane structures, which dramatically improved cellular bridging between printed "struts."

Article Abstract:

There is no ideal device for replacing weight-bearing soft tissues like menisci or intervertebral discs due to poor integration with tissues and mechanical property mismatch.

Polycarbonate urethane (PCU) is a soft and tough biocompatible material that can be 3D printed into porous structures with controlled pore sizes.

Porous PCU structures were 3D-printed in a crosshatch pattern with a range of in-plane pore sizes (0 to 800 μm) forming fully interconnected porous networks.

These porous networks can be loaded with collagen gels (PureCol^®), to provide additional biological support for cells. Bare PCU structures and collagen-hydrogel-filled porous PCU support robust NIH/3T3 fibroblast cell line proliferation over 14 days for all pore sizes. Results highlight PCU’s potential in the development of tissue-integrating medical implants.

Link to the publication: 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32418348/