title: Polymeric microstructures with shape-memory properties for biomedical use built by stereolithography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to design and build porous microstructures with shape memory behaviour using biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate) dimethacrylate macromers. These microstructures could be advantageous for tissue engineering and other advanced biomedical applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Porous structures with a gyroid pore network architecture showing average pore sizes of 930 µm and complete pore interconnectivity were prepared by stereolithography. Built structures were characterized by Micro-computed tomography (µ-CT). Shape recovery and shape fixity of microstructures after 40% and 70% compression were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 37 °C the flexible structures showed compression modulus values of 60 KPa and could be fully compressed. Thermal analysis showed that the built networks were amorphous with Tg values of 23 °C. After compression to 40 and 70%, shape fixity and shape recovery of the structures at respectively 0 °C and 37 °C was almost quantitative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The well-defined pore network characteristics and the shape-memory properties of these structures allow their use as deployable tissue engineering scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Medical Centre Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blanquer
authors.forename: Dirk W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Grijpma
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006801:Humans; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D011312:Pressure; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C121059:poly(lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate)