Title:
PEG (Polyethylene Glycol)-PCL (Polycaprolactone) Block Copolymers For 3D Printing Of Medical Devices
PEG (Polyethylene Glycol)-PCL (Polycaprolactone) Block Copolymers For 3D Printing Of Medical Devices
Author(s)
Yang, Ruyi
Advisor(s)
Finn, M.G.
Hollister, Scott
Hollister, Scott
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Abstract
PCL polymers have been widely used in 3D printing of scaffolds over the past few decades, which can be applied in a variety of medical devices. However, PCL has intrinsic defects, such as high hydrophilicity which causes low biocompatibility. The research reported in this thesis aims to modify existing PCL polymers by developing a series of PEG-PCL block copolymers with different ratios of blocks and investigate their potential as implants for soft tissue engineering and airway reconstruction. The introduction of PEG blocks to PCL enhanced biocompatibility towards mammalian cells compared to the commercially available PCL with same molecular weight, without compromising the 3D printability. Moreover, some PEG-PCL copolymers showed significantly better resistance towards bacterial adhesion, which is desirable for both applications. The various mechanical properties of these copolymers make them promising candidates to devise patient-specific medical devices with various needs.
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Date Issued
2022-01-18
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Thesis