title: UV Cross-Linkable Graphene/Poly(trimethylene Carbonate) Composites for 3D Printing of Electrically Conductive Scaffolds.
abstract: Conductive, flexible graphene/poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) composites were prepared. Addition of just 3 wt % graphene to PTMC oligomers functionalized with methacrylate end-groups followed by UV cross-linking resulted in more than 100% improvement in tensile strength and enhanced electrical conductivity by orders of magnitude without altering the processability of the host material. The addition of graphene also enhanced mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) attachment and proliferation. When electrical stimulation via the composite material was applied, MSC viability was not compromised, and osteogenic markers were upregulated. Using additive fabrication techniques, the material was processed into multilayer 3D scaffolds which supported MSC attachment. These conducting composites with excellent processability and compatibility with MSCs are promising biomaterials to be used as versatile platforms for biomedical applications.
authors: ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
authors: Sepidar
authors: S
authors: Sayyar
authors: ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
authors: Miina
authors: M
authors: Bjorninen
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Clinicum, University of Helsinki , 00100 Helsinki, Finland.|MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors: Suvi
authors: S
authors: Haimi
authors: Adult Stem Cell Group, BioMediTech, University of Tampere , 33100 Tampere, Finland.
authors: Susanna
authors: S
authors: Miettinen
authors: ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
authors: Kerry
authors: K
authors: Gilmore
authors: MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, W.J. Kolff Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen , 9600 AD Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Grijpma
authors: ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong , Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
authors: Gordon
authors: G
authors: Wallace
keywords: PTMC; additive fabrications; biomaterials; graphene; mesenchymal stem cells