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4D Printing of Shape Memory‐Based Personalized Endoluminal Medical Devices
Author(s) -
Zarek Matt,
Mansour Nicola,
Shapira Shir,
Cohn Daniel
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201600628
Subject(s) - stereolithography , shape memory polymer , 3d printing , shape memory alloy , morphing , computer science , materials science , polycaprolactone , 3d printer , personalized medicine , biomedical engineering , nanotechnology , engineering drawing , computer graphics (images) , mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , composite material , bioinformatics , polymer , engineering , biology
The convergence of additive manufacturing and shape‐morphing materials is promising for the advancement of personalized medical devices. The capability to transform 3D objects from one shape to another, right off the print bed, is known as 4D printing. Shape memory thermosets can be tailored to have a range of thermomechanical properties favorable to medical devices, but processing them is a challenge because they are insoluble and do not flow at any temperature. This study presents here a strategy to capitalize on a series of medical imaging modalities to construct a printable shape memory endoluminal device, exemplified by a tracheal stent. A methacrylated polycaprolactone precursor with a molecular weight of 10 000 g mol −1 is printed with a UV‐LED stereolithography printer based on anatomical data. This approach converges with the zeitgeist of personalized medicine and it is anticipated that it will broadly expand the application of shape memory‐exhibiting biomedical devices to myriad clinical indications.