title: Preparation of a designed poly(trimethylene carbonate) microvascular network by stereolithography.
abstract: Designed flexible and elastic network structures are prepared by stereolithography using a photo-crosslinkable resin based on a poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) macromer with a molecular weight of 3150 g/mol. Physical properties and the compatibility with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are evaluated. The hydrophobic networks are found to be flexible and elastic, with an E modulus of 7.9 ± 0.1 MPa, a tensile strength of 3.5 ± 0.1 MPa and an elongation at break of 76.7 ± 0.7%. HUVECs attach and proliferate well on the surfaces of the built structures. A three-dimensional microvascular network is designed to serve as a perfusable scaffold for tissue engineering. In the design, 5 generations of open channels each branch into 4 smaller channels yielding a microvascular region with a high density of capillaries. The overall cross-sectional area through which medium or blood can be perfused remains constant. These structures would ensure efficient nourishment of cells in a large volume of tissue. Built by stereolithography using the PTMC resin, the smallest channels of these structures have square cross-sectional areas, with inner widths of approximately 224 μm and wall thicknesses of approximately 152 μm. The channels are open, allowing water to perfuse the scaffold at 0.279 ± 0.006 mL/s at 80 mmHg and 0.335 ± 0.009 mL/s at 120 mmHg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials, Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine (MIRA), University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500, AE, Enschede, The Netherlands; Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine (MIRA), University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500, AE, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schüller-Ravoo
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zant
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feijen
authors.forename: Dirk W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Grijpma
mesh_terms: D004146:Dioxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D055806:Microvessels; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004146:Dioxanes; D011108:Polymers; C059299:polytrimethylene carbonate
keywords: microvascular networks; photocross-linking; poly(trimethylene carbonate); rapid prototyping; stereolithography; tissue-engineering scaffolds