4D Printing of Resorbable Complex Shape-Memory Poly(propylene fumarate) Star Scaffolds

Degradable biomedical elastomers: paving the future of tissue repair and regenerative medicine

Degradable biomedical elastomers (DBE), characterized by controlled biodegradability, excellent biocompatibility, tailored elasticity, and favorable network design and processability, have become indispensable in tissue repair. This review critically examines the recent advances of biodegradable elastomers for tissue repair, focusing mainly on degradation mechanisms and evaluation, synthesis and crosslinking methods, microstructure design, processing techniques, and tissue repair applications. The review explores the material composition and cross-linking methods of elastomers used in tissue repair, addressing chemistry-related challenges and structural design considerations. In addition, this review focuses on the processing methods of two- and three-dimensional structures of elastomers, and systematically discusses the contribution of processing methods such as solvent casting, electrostatic spinning, and three-/four-dimensional printing of DBE. Furthermore, we describe recent advances in tissue repair using DBE, and include advances achieved in regenerating different tissues, including nerves, tendons, muscle, cardiac, and bone, highlighting their efficacy and versatility. The review concludes by discussing the current challenges in material selection, biodegradation, bioactivation, and manufacturing in tissue repair, and suggests future research directions. This concise yet comprehensive analysis aims to provide valuable insights and technical guidance for advances in DBE for tissue engineering.

Use of Biomaterials in 3D Printing as a Solution to Microbial Infections in Arthroplasty and Osseous Reconstruction

The incidence of microbial infections in orthopedic prosthetic surgeries is a perennial problem that increases morbidity and mortality, representing one of the major complications of such medical interventions. The emergence of novel technologies, especially 3D printing, represents a promising avenue of development for reducing the risk of such eventualities. There are already a host of biomaterials, suitable for 3D printing, that are being tested for antimicrobial properties when they are coated with bioactive compounds, such as antibiotics, or combined with hydrogels with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, such as chitosan and metal nanoparticles, among others. The materials discussed in the context of this paper comprise beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), hydroxyapatite, lithium disilicate glass, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF), poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), and zirconia. While the recent research results are promising, further development is required to address the increasing antibiotic resistance exhibited by several common pathogens, the potential for fungal infections, and the potential toxicity of some metal nanoparticles. Other solutions, like the incorporation of phytochemicals, should also be explored. Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in the development of certain orthopedic implants and the potential use of AI against bacterial infections might represent viable solutions to these problems. Finally, there are some legal considerations associated with the use of biomaterials and the widespread use of 3D printing, which must be taken into account.

Biomaterials Adapted to Vat Photopolymerization in 3D Printing: Characteristics and Medical Applications

Along with the rapid and extensive advancements in the 3D printing field, a diverse range of uses for 3D printing have appeared in the spectrum of medical applications. Vat photopolymerization (VPP) stands out as one of the most extensively researched methods of 3D printing, with its main advantages being a high printing speed and the ability to produce high-resolution structures. A major challenge in using VPP 3D-printed materials in medicine is the general incompatibility of standard VPP resin mixtures with the requirements of biocompatibility and biofunctionality. Instead of developing completely new materials, an alternate approach to solving this problem involves adapting existing biomaterials. These materials are incompatible with VPP 3D printing in their pure form but can be adapted to the VPP chemistry and general process through the use of innovative mixtures and the addition of specific pre- and post-printing steps. This review's primary objective is to highlight biofunctional and biocompatible materials that have been adapted to VPP. We present and compare the suitability of these adapted materials to different medical applications and propose other biomaterials that could be further adapted to the VPP 3D printing process in order to fulfill patient-specific medical requirements.

4D printing of biodegradable elastomers with tailorable thermal response at physiological temperature

4D printing has a great potential for the manufacturing of soft robotics and medical devices. The alliance of digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing and novel shape-memory photopolymers allows for the fabrication of smart 4D-printed medical devices in high resolution and with tailorable functionalities. However, most of the reported 4D-printed materials are nondegradable, which limits their clinical applications. On the other hand, 4D printing of biodegradable shape-memory elastomers is highly challenging, especially when transition points close to physiological temperature and shape fixation under ambient conditions are required. Here, we report the 4D printing of biodegradable shape-memory elastomers with tailorable transition points covering physiological temperature, by using poly(D,L-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate) methacrylates at various monomer feed ratios. After the programming step, the high-resolution DLP printed stents preserved their folded shape at room temperature, and showed efficient shape recovery at 37 °C. The materials were cytocompatible and readily degradable under physiological conditions. Furthermore, drug-loaded devices with tuneable release kinetics were realized by DLP-printing with resins containing polymers and levofloxacin or nintedanib. This study offers a new perspective for the development of next-generation 4D-printed medical devices.

Recent advances and future directions of 3D to 6D printing in brain cancer treatment and neural tissue engineering

The field of neural tissue engineering has undergone a revolution due to advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. This technology now enables the creation of intricate neural tissue constructs with precise geometries, topologies, and mechanical properties. Currently, there are various 3D printing techniques available, such as stereolithography and digital light processing, and a wide range of materials can be utilized, including hydrogels, biopolymers, and synthetic materials. Furthermore, the development of four-dimensional (4D) printing has gained traction, allowing for the fabrication of structures that can change shape over time using techniques such as shape-memory polymers. These innovations have the potential to facilitate neural regeneration, drug screening, disease modeling, and hold tremendous promise for personalized diagnostics, precise therapeutic strategies against brain cancers. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art techniques and materials for 3D printing in neural tissue engineering and brain cancer. It focuses on the exciting possibilities that lie ahead, including the emerging field of 4D printing. Additionally, the paper discusses the potential applications of five-dimensional and six-dimensional printing, which integrate time and biological functions into the printing process, in the fields of neuroscience.

Structurally Dynamic Gelatin-Based Hydrogels with Self-Healing, Shape Memory, and Cytocompatible Properties for 4D Printing

Three-dimensional (3D) printable hydrogels with a shape memory effect have emerged as a new class of 4D printing materials recently and found wide applications in various fields. However, synergistically endowing such materials with good mechanical strength and biocompatibility for biomedical uses remains challenging. In this study, a series of multiresponsive hydrogels have been prepared through a dynamic covalent imine/Diels-Alder network from biocompatible starting materials of modified gelatin and poly(ethylene glycol)-based polymers. By further secondary crosslinking with a hyperbranched triethoxysilane reagent (HPASi) that contains multiple supramolecular hydrogen bonding, the hydrogels presented a strengthened self-healing and temperature-responsive shape memory effect. With the additional features of superior stretchability (elongation at break up to 523%), good cytocompatibility, and 3D printable properties, these multifunctional hydrogels showed great potential for broad biomedical applications.

Four-Dimensional Printing and Shape Memory Materials in Bone Tissue Engineering

The repair of severe bone defects is still a formidable clinical challenge, requiring the implantation of bone grafts or bone substitute materials. The development of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has received considerable attention in bone tissue engineering over the past decade. However, 3D printing has a limitation. It only takes into account the original form of the printed scaffold, which is inanimate and static, and is not suitable for dynamic organisms. With the emergence of stimuli-responsive materials, four-dimensional (4D) printing has become the next-generation solution for biological tissue engineering. It combines the concept of time with three-dimensional printing. Over time, 4D-printed scaffolds change their appearance or function in response to environmental stimuli (physical, chemical, and biological). In conclusion, 4D printing is the change of the fourth dimension (time) in 3D printing, which provides unprecedented potential for bone tissue repair. In this review, we will discuss the latest research on shape memory materials and 4D printing in bone tissue repair.

Research Progress of Shape Memory Polymer and 4D Printing in Biomedical Application

As a kind of smart material, shape memory polymer (SMP) shows great application potential in the biomedical field. Compared with traditional metal-based medical devices, SMP-based devices have the following characteristics: 1) The adaptive ability allows the biomedical device to better match the surrounding tissue after being implanted into the body by minimally invasive implantation; 2) it has better biocompatibility and adjustable biodegradability; 3) mechanical properties can be regulated in a large range to better match with the surrounding tissue. 4D printing technology is a comprehensive technology based on smart materials and 3D printing, which has great application value in the biomedical field. 4D printing technology breaks through the technical bottleneck of personalized customization and provides a new opportunity for the further development of the biomedical field. This paper summarizes the application of SMP and 4D printing technology in the field of bone tissue scaffolds, tracheal scaffolds, and drug release, etc. Moreover, this paper analyzes the existing problems and prospects, hoping to provide a preliminary discussion and useful reference for the application of SMP in biomedical engineering.

4D-printed bilayer hydrogel with adjustable bending degree for enteroatmospheric fistula closure

Recently, four-dimensional (4D) shape-morphing structures, which can dynamically change shape over time, have attracted much attention in biomedical manufacturing. The 4D printing has the capacity to fabricate dynamic construction conforming to the natural bending of biological tissues, superior to other manufacturing techniques. In this study, we presented a multi-responsive, flexible, and biocompatible 4D-printed bilayer hydrogel based on acrylamide-acrylic acid/cellulose nanocrystal (AAm-AAc/CNC) network. The first layer was first stretched and then formed reversible coordination with Fe³⁺ to maintain this pre-stretched length; it was later combined with a second layer. The deformation process was actuated by the reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ in the first layer which restored it to its initial length. The deformation condition was to immerse the 4D construct in sodium lactate (LA-Na) and then expose it to ultraviolet (UV) light until maximal deformation was realized. The bending degree of this 4D construct can be programmed by modifying the pre-stretched lengths of the first layer. We explored various deformation steps in simple and complex constructs to verify that the 4D bilayer hydrogel can mimic the curved morphology of the intestines. The bilayer hydrogel can also curve in deionized water due to anisotropic volume change yet the response time and maximum bending degree was inferior to deformation in LA-Na and UV light. Finally, we made a 4D-printed bilayer hydrogel stent to test its closure effect for enteroatmospheric fistulas (EAFs) in vitro and in vivo. The results illustrate that the hydrogel plays a role in the temporary closure of EAFs. This study offers an effective method to produce curved structures and expands the potential applications of 4D printing in biomedical fields.

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A novel strategy to fabricate 4D-printed multi-responsive bilayer hydrogels is proposed.

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The deformation mechanism relies on shrinkage anisotropy between two layers in lactate sodium solution and ultraviolet.

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The 4D shape-morphing hydrogel can adapt to intestinal curvature for enteroatmospheric fistula closure.

Porous biomaterials for tissue engineering: a review

The field of biomaterials has grown rapidly over the past decades. Within this field, porous biomaterials have played a remarkable role in: (i) enabling the manufacture of complex three-dimensional structures; (ii) recreating mechanical properties close to those of the host tissues; (iii) facilitating interconnected structures for the transport of macromolecules and cells; and (iv) behaving as biocompatible inserts, tailored to either interact or not with the host body. This review outlines a brief history of the development of biomaterials, before discussing current materials proposed for use as porous biomaterials and exploring the state-of-the-art in their manufacture. The wide clinical applications of these materials are extensively discussed, drawing on specific examples of how the porous features of such biomaterials impact their behaviours, as well as the advantages and challenges faced, for each class of the materials.

Self-Searching Writing of Human-Organ-Scale Three-Dimensional Topographic Scaffolds with Shape Memory by Silkworm-like Electrospun Autopilot Jet

Bioengineered scaffolds satisfying both the physiological and anatomical considerations could potentially repair partially damaged tissues to whole organs. Although three-dimensional (3D) printing has become a popular approach in making 3D topographic scaffolds, electrospinning stands out from all other techniques for fabricating extracellular matrix mimicking fibrous scaffolds. However, its complex charge-influenced jet-field interactions and the associated random motion were hardly overcome for almost a century, thus preventing it from being a viable technique for 3D topographic scaffold construction. Herein, we constructed, for the first time, geometrically challenging 3D fibrous scaffolds using biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone), mimicking human-organ-scale face, female breast, nipple, and vascular graft, with exceptional shape memory and free-standing features by a novel field self-searching process of autopilot polymer jet, essentially resembling the silkworm-like cocoon spinning. With a simple electrospinning setup and innovative writing strategies supported by simulation, we successfully overcame the intricate jet-field interactions while preserving high-fidelity template topographies, via excellent target recognition, with pattern features ranging from 100's μm to 10's cm. A 3D cell culture study ensured the anatomical compatibility of the so-made 3D scaffolds. Our approach brings the century-old electrospinning to the new list of viable 3D scaffold constructing techniques, which goes beyond applications in tissue engineering.

Drug-Eluting, Bioresorbable Cardiovascular Stents─Challenges and Perspectives

Globally, the leading causes of natural death are attributed to coronary heart disease and type 1 and type 2 diabetes. High blood pressure levels, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and poor eating habits lead to the agglomeration of plaque in the arteries, reducing the blood flow. The implantation of devices used to unclog vessels, known as stents, sometimes results in a lack of irrigation due to the excessive proliferation of endothelial tissue within the blood vessels and is known as restenosis. The use of drug-eluting stents (DESs) to deliver antiproliferative drugs has led to the development of different encapsulation techniques. However, due to the potency of the drugs used in the initial stent designs, a chronic inflammatory reaction of the arterial wall known as thrombosis can cause a myocardial infarction (MI). One of the most promising drugs to reduce this risk is everolimus, which can be encapsulated in lipid systems for controlled release directly into the artery. This review aims to discuss the current status of stent design, fabrication, and functionalization. Variables such as the mechanical properties, metals and their alloys, drug encapsulation and controlled elution, and stent degradation are also addressed. Additionally, this review covers the use of polymeric surface coatings on stents and the recent advances in layer-by-layer coating and drug delivery. The advances in nanoencapsulation techniques such as liposomes and micro- and nanoemulsions and their functionalization in bioresorbable, drug-eluting stents are also highlighted.

Programmable 4D Printing of Photoactive Shape Memory Composite Structures

4D printing is an advanced manufacturing technology combining additive manufacturing with smart materials. Based on light-active shape memory composites, smart medical structures with remote control capability, therapeutic function, and biocompatibility are hopefully fabricated by 4D printing. Here, a multifunctional composite with good mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and light-active shape memory performance is prepared by incorporating gold nanoparticles into a shape memory polyurethane matrix. The composites demonstrate a rapid and stable light-thermal effect, which can achieve localized and controlled breast tumor ablation, providing an approach to hyperthermia treatment for cancer cells. By directly bioprinting the composite melt, a series of 4D-printed structures are manufactured accurately in a convenient, clean, and safe way, which show a fast autonomous light-driven shape recovery process. The examples of a 4D-printed soft tissue scaffold and intraluminal scaffold can expand from a conveniently insertional shape to an expanded shape under light exposure. The proposed strategies provide great inspiration for customized multifunctional light-thermal therapeutic structures for minimally invasive treatment.

Thiol-Based Three-Dimensional Printing of Fully Degradable Poly(propylene fumarate) Star Polymers

Poly(propylene fumarate) star polymers photochemically 3D printed with degradable thiol cross-linkers yielded highly tunable biodegradable polymeric materials. Tailoring the alkene:thiol ratio (5:1, 10:1, 20:1 and 30:1) and thus the cross-link density within the PPF star systems yielded a wide variation of both the mechanical and degradation properties of the printed materials. Fundamental trends were established between the polymer network cross-link density, glass transition temperature, and tensile and thermomechanical properties of the materials. The tensile properties of the PPF star-based systems were compared to commercial state-of-the-art non-degradable polymer resins. The thiolene-cross-linked materials are fully degradable and possess properties over a wide range of mechanical properties relevant to regenerative medicine applications.

4D Printing: A Cutting-edge Platform for Biomedical Applications

Nature's materials have evolved over time to be able to respond to environmental stimuli by generating complex structures that can change their functions in response to distance, time, and direction of stimuli. A number of technical efforts are currently being made to improve printing resolution, shape fidelity, and printing speed to mimic the structural design of natural materials with three-dimensional (3D) printing. Unfortunately, this technology is limited by the fact that printed objects are static and cannot be reshaped dynamically in response to stimuli. In recent years, several smart materials have been developed that can undergo dynamic morphing in response to a stimulus, thus resolving this issue. Four-dimensional (4D) printing refers to a manufacturing process involving additive manufacturing, smart materials, and specific geometries. It has become an essential technology for biomedical engineering and has the potential to create a wide range of useful biomedical products. This paper will discuss the concept of 4D bioprinting and the recent developments in smart matrials, which can be actuated by different stimuli and be exploited to develop biomimetic materials and structures, with significant implications for pharmaceutics and biomedical research, as well as prospects for the future.

β-Sheet to Random Coil Transition in Self-Assembling Peptide Scaffolds Promotes Proteolytic Degradation

One of the most desirable properties that biomaterials designed for tissue engineering or drug delivery applications should fulfill is biodegradation and resorption without toxicity. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in the development of biomaterials able to be enzymatically degraded once implanted at the injury site or once delivered to the target organ. In this paper, we demonstrate the protease sensitivity of self-assembling amphiphilic peptides, in particular, RAD16-I (AcN-RADARADARADARADA-CONH2), which contains four potential cleavage sites for trypsin. We detected that when subjected to thermal denaturation, the peptide secondary structure suffers a transition from β-sheet to random coil. We also used Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-Of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) to detect the proteolytic breakdown products of samples subjected to incubation with trypsin as well as atomic force microscopy (AFM) to visualize the effect of the degradation on the nanofiber scaffold. Interestingly, thermally treated samples had a higher extent of degradation than non-denatured samples, suggesting that the transition from β-sheet to random coil leaves the cleavage sites accessible and susceptible to protease degradation. These results indicate that the self-assembling peptide can be reduced to short peptide sequences and, subsequently, degraded to single amino acids, constituting a group of naturally biodegradable materials optimal for their application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Progress in 4D/5D/6D printing of foods: applications and R&D opportunities

4D printing is a result of 3D printing of smart materials which respond to diverse stimuli to produce novel products. 4D printing has been applied successfully to many fields, e.g., engineering, medical devices, computer components, food processing, etc. The last two years have seen a significant increase in studies on 4D as well as 5D and 6D food printing. This paper reviews and summarizes current applications, benefits, limitations, and challenges of 4D food printing. In addition, the principles, current, and potential applications of the latest additive manufacturing technologies (5D and 6D printing) are reviewed and discussed. Presently, 4D food printing applications have mainly focused on achieving desirable color, shape, flavor, and nutritional properties of 3D printed materials. Moreover, it is noted that 5D and 6D printing can in principle print very complex structures with improved strength and less material than do 3D and 4D printing. In future, these new technologies are expected to result in significant innovations in all fields, including the production of high quality food products which cannot be produced with current processing technologies. The objective of this review is to identify industrial potential of 4D printing and for further innovation utilizing 5D and 6D printing.

Biodegradable and Crosslinkable Poly(propylene fumarate) Liquid Crystal Polymers

In recent years, liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) have attracted extensive attention due to their widespread applications in artificial muscles, engineering plastics and high-modulus fibers, etc. However, the design and fabrication...

3D Printed Elastomers with Sylgard‐184‐like Mechanical Properties and Tuneable Degradability

The 3D printing of biodegradable elastomers with high mechanical strength is of great interest for personalized medicine, but rather challenging. In this study, we propose a dual-polymer resin formulation for digital light processing of biodegradable elastomers with tailorable mechanical properties comparable to those of Sylgard-184.

Digital light 3D printing of biodegradable elastomers with mechanical properties comparable to the ones of Sylgard-184 via dual-polymer resins.

4D printing in biomedical applications: emerging trends and technologies

Nature's material systems during evolution have developed the ability to respond and adapt to environmental stimuli through the generation of complex structures capable of varying their functions across direction, distances and time. 3D printing technologies can recapitulate structural motifs present in natural materials, and efforts are currently being made on the technological side to improve printing resolution, shape fidelity, and printing speed. However, an intrinsic limitation of this technology is that printed objects are static and thus inadequate to dynamically reshape when subjected to external stimuli. In recent years, this issue has been addressed with the design and precise deployment of smart materials that can undergo a programmed morphing in response to a stimulus. The term 4D printing was coined to indicate the combined use of additive manufacturing, smart materials, and careful design of appropriate geometries. In this review, we report the recent progress in the design and development of smart materials that are actuated by different stimuli and their exploitation within additive manufacturing to produce biomimetic structures with important repercussions in different but interrelated biomedical areas.

Smart scaffolds: shape memory polymers (SMPs) in tissue engineering

Smart scaffolds based on shape memory polymer (SMPs) have been increasingly studied in tissue engineering. The unique shape actuating ability of SMP scaffolds has been utilized to improve delivery and/or tissue defect filling. In this regard, these scaffolds may be self-deploying, self-expanding, or self-fitting. Smart scaffolds are generally thermoresponsive or hydroresponsive wherein shape recovery is driven by an increase in temperature or by hydration, respectively. Most smart scaffolds have been directed towards regenerating bone, cartilage, and cardiovascular tissues. A vast variety of smart scaffolds can be prepared with properties targeted for a specific tissue application. This breadth of smart scaffolds stems from the variety of compositions employed as well as the numerous methods used to fabricated scaffolds with the desired morphology. Smart scaffold compositions span across several distinct classes of SMPs, affording further tunability of properties using numerous approaches. Specifically, these SMPs include those based on physically cross-linked and chemically cross-linked networks and include widely studied shape memory polyurethanes (SMPUs). Various additives, ranging from nanoparticles to biologicals, have also been included to impart unique functionality to smart scaffolds. Thus, given their unique functionality and breadth of tunable properties, smart scaffolds have tremendous potential in tissue engineering.

Polylactic Acid (PLA) Biocomposite: Processing, Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Applications

Over recent years, enthusiasm towards the manufacturing of biopolymers has attracted considerable attention due to the rising concern about depleting resources and worsening pollution. Among the biopolymers available in the world, polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the highest biopolymers produced globally and thus, making it suitable for product commercialisation. Therefore, the effectiveness of natural fibre reinforced PLA composite as an alternative material to substitute the non-renewable petroleum-based materials has been examined by researchers. The type of fibre used in fibre/matrix adhesion is very important because it influences the biocomposites' mechanical properties. Besides that, an outline of the present circumstance of natural fibre-reinforced PLA 3D printing, as well as its functions in 4D printing for applications of stimuli-responsive polymers were also discussed. This research paper aims to present the development and conducted studies on PLA-based natural fibre bio-composites over the last decade. This work reviews recent PLA-derived bio-composite research related to PLA synthesis and biodegradation, its properties, processes, challenges and prospects.

Fabrication of Biomedical Scaffolds Using Biodegradable Polymers

Degradable polymers are used widely in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Maturing capabilities in additive manufacturing coupled with advances in orthogonal chemical functionalization methodologies have enabled a rapid evolution of defect-specific form factors and strategies for designing and creating bioactive scaffolds. However, these defect-specific scaffolds, especially when utilizing degradable polymers as the base material, present processing challenges that are distinct and unique from other classes of materials. The goal of this review is to provide a guide for the fabrication of biodegradable polymer-based scaffolds that includes the complete pathway starting from selecting materials, choosing the correct fabrication method, and considering the requirements for tissue specific applications of the scaffold.

4D Printing Elastic Composites for Strain-Tailored Multistable Shape Morphing

Three-dimensional (3D) morphing structures with multistable shapes that can be quantitatively and reversibly altered are highly desired in many potential applications ranging from soft robots to wearable electronics. In this study, we present a 4D printing method for fabricating multistable shape-morphing structures that can be quantitatively controlled by the applied strains. The structures are printed by a two-nozzle 3D printer that can spatially distribute phase change wax microparticles (MPs) in the elastomer matrix. The wax MPs can retain the residual strain after the prestrained elastomer composite is relaxed because of the solid-liquid phase change. Thanks to high design freedom of the 3D printing, spatial distribution of the wax MPs can be programmed, leading to an anisotropic stress field in the elastomer composite. This causes the out-of-plane deformations such as curling, folding, and buckling. These deformations are multistable and can be reprogrammed because of the reversible phase change of the wax MPs. What's more, characteristics of deformations such as curvatures and folding angles are linearly dependent on the applied strains, suggesting that these deformations are quantitatively controllable. Finally, the applications of the strained-tailored multistable shape morphing 3D structures in the assembly of 3D electronics and adaptive wearable sensors were demonstrated.

Advancing Toward 3D Printing of Bioresorbable Shape Memory Polymer Stents

Stents have evolved significantly since their introduction to the medical field in the early 1980s, becoming widely used in percutaneous coronary interventions and following nephrological procedures. However, the current commercially available stents do not degrade and remain in the body forever, leading to problems like restenosis in cardiovascular applications or requiring removal procedures in ureteral applications. Efforts to replace metal with resorbable materials have largely been halted after the commercial failure of and safety concerns elicited by Abbott's Absorb stent in 2017. Industry continues to use common polymers such as poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) for biomedical products, but due to the weak mechanical properties of these bioresorbable materials in comparison to metals, these devices have struggled to accomplish the goals set, increasing risk of thrombosis. 3D printing stents using bioresorbable and shape memory materials could provide a method of patient-personalized production, remove the need for balloon expansion, and limit stent migration, thus bringing a new age of stent technology. The investigation of a range of 3D-printable and bioresorbable shape-memory polymers can provide solutions to the shortcomings of previously explored bioresorbable stents and revitalize the medical device industry efforts into advancing stent technology.

Investigation on Spontaneous Shape Change of 4D Printed Starch-Based Purees from Purple Sweet Potatoes As Induced by Microwave Dehydration

The time evolution of three-dimensional (3D) printed food structures as affected by their composition and postprinting stimulus is an area of research that has recently received increasing attention. In this study, the spontaneous shape change of 3D printed purple sweet potato purees of different formulations as triggered by microwave dehydration was investigated. The rheological properties, water distribution behavior, and dielectric properties of the purees were first studied. Addition of salt reduced the viscosity, storage modulus, loss modulus, and yield stress but increased the relaxation time of the purees. Addition of fructose syrup resulted in opposite results. Addition of both salt and syrup decreased the dielectric constant but increased the dielectric loss of the purees. Increased microwave power and salt content increased the rates of dehydration and deformation but decreased the maximum deformation degree of the printed samples. The syrup also decreased the maximum deformation degree. A desirable deformation pattern could also be achieved by manipulating the infill parameters. Transformation of two-dimensional planar flowers and butterflies into 3D configurations as a result of varying the aforementioned parameters is illustrated. The proposed technique to induce spontaneous shape change of a 3D printed starch-based product should lay a foundation for further application of four-dimensional food printing.

Lithography-Based 3D Bioprinting and Bioinks for Bone Repair and Regeneration

The fabrication of scaffolds that precisely mimic the natural structure and physiochemical properties of bone is still one of the most challenging tasks in bone tissue engineering. 3D printing techniques have drawn increasing attention due to their ability to fabricate scaffolds with complex structures and multiple bioinks. For bone tissue engineering, lithography-based 3D bioprinting is frequently utilized due to its printing speed, mild printing process, and cost-effective benefits. In this review, lithography-based 3D bioprinting technologies including SLA and DLP are introduced; their typical applications in biological system and bioinks are also explored and summarized. Furthermore, we discussed possible evolution of the hardware/software systems and bioinks of lithography-based 3D bioprinting, as well as their future applications.