@phdthesis{Boehm2023,
  author    = {B{\"o}hm, Christoph},
  title     = {Thermal Stability of the Polyesters PCL and PLGA during Melt Electrowriting},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-30613},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-306139},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The focus of this thesis was to investigate how PCL and PLGA react to the heat exposure that comes with the MEW process over a defined timespan. To assess the thermal stability of PCL during MEW over 25 d, an automated collection of fibers has been used to determine the CTS on each day of heating for three different temperatures. PCL is exceptionally stable over 25 d at 75 °C, whereas for 85 °C and 95 °C a slight upward trend during the last 10 d could be observed, which is an indication for thermal degradation. Same trend could be observed for diameter of fibers produced at a fixed collector speed. For all temperatures, CTS during the first 5 d decreased due to inhomogeneities of the melt. Physical analysis of the fibers by XRD and mechanical testing showed no significant changes. To investigate the chemical details of the thermal durability, PCL was artificially aged over 25 d at 75 °C, 85 °C and 95 °C. Data from GPC analysis and rheology revealed that PCL is degrading steadily at all three temperatures. Combined with GC-MS analysis, two different mechanisms for degradation could be observed: random chain scission and unzipping. Additional GPC experiment using a mixture of PCL and a fluorescence labelled PCL showed that PCL was undergoing ester interchange reactions, which could explain its thermal stability. PLGA was established successfully as material for MEW. GPC results revealed that PLGA degraded heavily in the one-hour preheating period. To reduce the processing temperature, ATEC was blended with PLGA in three mixtures. This slowed down degradation and a processing window of 6 h could be established. Mechanical testing with fibers produced with PLGA and all three blends was performed. PLGA was very brittle, whereas the blends showed an elastic behavior. This could be explained by ester interchange reactions that formed a loosely crosslinked network with ATEC.},
  subject      = {Degradation},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BoehmStahlhutWeichholdetal.2022,
  author    = {B{\"o}hm, Christoph and Stahlhut, Philipp and Weichhold, Jan and Hrynevich, Andrei and Teßmar, J{\"o}rg and Dalton, Paul D.},
  title     = {The Multiweek Thermal Stability of Medical-Grade Poly(ε-caprolactone) During Melt Electrowriting},
  series = {Small},
  volume    = {18},
  journal   = {Small},
  number    = {3},
  doi       = {10.1002/smll.202104193},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257741},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Melt electrowriting (MEW) is a high-resolution additive manufacturing technology that places unique constraints on the processing of thermally degradable polymers. With a single nozzle, MEW operates at low throughput and in this study, medical-grade poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is heated for 25 d at three different temperatures (75, 85, and 95 °C), collecting daily samples. There is an initial increase in the fiber diameter and decrease in the jet speed over the first 5 d, then the MEW process remains stable for the 75 and 85 °C groups. When the collector speed is fixed to a value at least 10\% above the jet speed, the diameter remains constant for 25 d at 75 °C and only increases with time for 85 and 95 °C. Fiber fusion at increased layer height is observed for 85 and 95 °C, while the surface morphology of single fibers remain similar for all temperatures. The properties of the prints are assessed with no observable changes in the degree of crystallinity or the Young's modulus, while the yield strength decreases in later phases only for 95 °C. After the initial 5-d period, the MEW processing of PCL at 75 °C is extraordinarily stable with overall fiber diameters averaging 13.5 ± 1.0 µm over the entire 25-d period.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HrynevichAchenbachJungstetal.2021,
  author    = {Hrynevich, Andrei and Achenbach, Pascal and Jungst, Tomasz and Brook, Gary A. and Dalton, Paul D.},
  title     = {Design of Suspended Melt Electrowritten Fiber Arrays for Schwann Cell Migration and Neurite Outgrowth},
  series = {Macromolecular Bioscience},
  volume    = {21},
  journal   = {Macromolecular Bioscience},
  number    = {7},
  doi       = {10.1002/mabi.202000439},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257535},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {In this study, well-defined, 3D arrays of air-suspended melt electrowritten fibers are made from medical grade poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL). Low processing temperatures, lower voltages, lower ambient temperature, increased collector distance, and high collector speeds all aid to direct-write suspended fibers that can span gaps of several millimeters between support structures. Such processing parameters are quantitatively determined using a "wedge-design" melt electrowritten test frame to identify the conditions that increase the suspension probability of long-distance fibers. All the measured parameters impact the probability that a fiber is suspended over multimillimeter distances. The height of the suspended fibers can be controlled by a concurrently fabricated fiber wall and the 3D suspended PCL fiber arrays investigated with early post-natal mouse dorsal root ganglion explants. The resulting Schwann cell and neurite outgrowth extends substantial distances by 21 d, following the orientation of the suspended fibers and the supporting walls, often generating circular whorls of high density Schwann cells between the suspended fibers. This research provides a design perspective and the fundamental parametric basis for suspending individual melt electrowritten fibers into a form that facilitates cell culture.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MieszczanekRobinsonDaltonetal.2021,
  author    = {Mieszczanek, Pawel and Robinson, Thomas M. and Dalton, Paul D. and Hutmacher, Dietmar W.},
  title     = {Convergence of Machine Vision and Melt Electrowriting},
  series = {Advanced Materials},
  volume    = {33},
  journal   = {Advanced Materials},
  number    = {29},
  doi       = {10.1002/adma.202100519},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-256365},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Melt electrowriting (MEW) is a high-resolution additive manufacturing technology that balances multiple parametric variables to arrive at a stable fabrication process. The better understanding of this balance is underscored here using high-resolution camera vision of jet stability profiles in different electrical fields. Complementing this visual information are fiber-diameter measurements obtained at precise points, allowing the correlation to electrified jet properties. Two process signatures—the jet angle and for the first time, the Taylor cone area—are monitored and analyzed with a machine vision system, while SEM imaging for diameter measurement correlates real-time information. This information, in turn, allows the detection and correction of fiber pulsing for accurate jet placement on the collector, and the in-process assessment of the fiber diameter. Improved process control is used to successfully fabricate collapsible MEW tubes; structures that require exceptional accuracy and printing stability. Using a precise winding angle of 60° and 300 layers, the resulting 12 mm-thick tubular structures have elastic snap-through instabilities associated with mechanical metamaterials. This study provides a detailed analysis of the fiber pulsing occurrence in MEW and highlights the importance of real-time monitoring of the Taylor cone volume to better understand, control, and predict printing instabilities.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{FuchsYoussefSeheretal.2019,
  author    = {Fuchs, A. and Youssef, A. and Seher, A. and Hochleitner, G. and Dalton, P. D. and Hartmann, S. and Brands, R. C. and M{\"u}ller-Richter, U. D. A. and Linz, C,},
  title     = {Medical-grade polycaprolactone scaffolds made by melt electrospinning writing for oral bone regeneration - a pilot study in vitro},
  series = {BMC Oral Health},
  volume    = {19},
  journal   = {BMC Oral Health},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12903-019-0717-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-200274},
  pages     = {28},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Background The spectrum of indications for the use of membranes and scaffolds in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery includes, amongst others, guided bone regeneration (GBR). Currently available membrane systems face certain disadvantages such as difficult clinical handling, inconsistent degradation, undirected cell growth and a lack of stability that often complicate their application. Therefore, new membranes which can overcome these issues are of great interest in this field. Methods In this pilot study, we investigated polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds intended to enhance oral wound healing by means of melt electrospinning writing (MEW), which allowed for three-dimensional (3D) printing of micron scale fibers and very exact fiber placement. A singular set of box-shaped scaffolds of different sizes consisting of medical-grade PCL was examined and the scaffolds' morphology was evaluated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Each prototype sample with box sizes of 225 μm, 300 μm, 375 μm, 450 μm and 500 μm was assessed for cytotoxicity and cell growth by seeding each scaffold with human osteoblast-like cell line MG63. Results All scaffolds demonstrated good cytocompatibility according to cell viability, protein concentration, and cell number. SEM analysis revealed an exact fiber placement of the MEW scaffolds and the growth of viable MG63 cells on them. For the examined box-shaped scaffolds with pore sizes between 225 μm and 500 μm, a preferred box size for initial osteoblast attachment could not be found. Conclusions These well-defined 3D scaffolds consisting of medical-grade materials optimized for cell attachment and cell growth hold the key to a promising new approach in GBR in oral and maxillofacial surgery.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Reichert2007,
  author    = {Reichert, Johannes Christian},
  title     = {Osteogene Differenzierung von mesenchymalen Stammzellen in Kollagen I Hydrogelen und Herstellung eines stammzellbasierten Polycaprolacton-Hydrogel Konstrukts f{\"u}r die Rekonstruktion segmentaler Knochendefekte},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-23274},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {Segmentale Knochendefekte, stellen ein bedeutendes, klinisches Problem mit bisher limitierten, therapeutischen M{\"o}glichkeiten dar. Sie schr{\"a}nken nicht nur die Gesundheit und Lebensqualit{\"a}t des Betroffenen ein sondern bringen bei steigender Inzidenz und kostenintensiver Behandlung auch eine gewaltige sozio{\"o}konomische Problematik mit sich. Die bisher zur Verf{\"u}gung stehenden, therapeutischen Mittel wie die Entnahme von autologer Spongiosa aus dem Beckenkamm bergen das Problem der Morbidit{\"a}t an der Entnahmestelle, von persistierender Schmerzsyndromen, von Hypersensitivit{\"a}t, Instabilit{\"a}t des Beckens und Infektionen. Zudem ist die Menge an Knochen, die gewonnen werden kann, limitiert. Allografts sind von einer bedeutend niedrigeren Zellularit{\"a}t, besitzen eine geringere Revaskularisierungsrate sowie eine h{\"o}here Resorptionsrate, f{\"u}hren zu einer niedrigeren Knochenformationsrate und gehen mit der Gefahr einer Abstoßungsreaktion einher. Zuk{\"u}nftig k{\"o}nnte das Tissue Engineering als interdisziplin{\"a}res Forschungskonzept hier eine entscheidende Rolle spielen. Insbesondere MSZ wird ein großes therapeutisches Potential f{\"u}r die Rekonstruktion von Knochengewebe zugeschrieben. Die vorliegende Studie besch{\"a}ftigte sich einerseits mit der Frage, ob unter dem Einfluss entsprechender Wachstumsfaktoren humane MSZ aus dem Knochenmark in Kollagen I Hydrogelen zu einer osteogenen Differenzierung und der Produktion mineralisierter, extrazellul{\"a}rer Matrix angeregt werden k{\"o}nnen. Zum andern wurde untersucht, ob es m{\"o}glich ist, ein Konstrukt aus MSZ, einem Kollagen Gel und einem geeigneten Scaffold herzustellen, das sich zur Rekonstruktion segmentaler Knochendefekte eignet. Zun{\"a}chst wurden MSZ aus dem Knochenmark isoliert und in Monolayerkulturen osteogen differenziert. Die histochemischen Untersuchungen zeigten, dass in osteogenem Differenzierungsmedium kultivierte MSZ in der prim{\"a}ren Zellkultur vermehrt mineralisierte Matrix bildeten und ALP exprimierten. In den RT-PCR Analysen konnte eine deutliche Mehrexpression sp{\"a}ter osteogener Markergene wie Osteokalzin nachgewiesen werden. MSZ, die leicht zu isolieren und zu 53 kultivieren sind, eignen sich demnach gut als Zellen zur Herstellung eines Konstruktes f{\"u}r die Rekonstruktion von segmentalen Knochendefekten. Eingebracht in Kollagen I Hydrogele zeigten die Zellen unter dem Einfluss verschiedener osteogener Differenzierungsbedingungen unterschiedliche Genexpressionsmuster. Nach 42 Tagen Kultur in SZM (Kontrollgruppe) konnte sowohl die Expression osteogener Markergene als auch eine chondrogene Differenzierung nachgewiesen werden. Es konnte eine deutliche Mehrexpression von AGN, Col II und SOX-9, gleichfalls der osteogenen Marker ALP und Cbfa1 gezeigt werden. Ein entsprechendes Bild hatte auch die histologische Aufarbeitung ergeben. Dies k{\"o}nnte auf die Eigenschaften des Kollagen Hydrogels zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren sein, dem aufgrund seiner Zusammensetzung und biologisch-induktiven Merkmale eine chondrogene Induktion, sogar ohne Wachstumsfaktoren, zugeschrieben wird. In der mit BMP- 2 differenzierten Gruppe zeigte sich eine deutliche Zunahme der Expression der chondrogenen Markergene, wie Col II und SOX-9. Auch die osteogenen Marker wie ALP, Cbfa1 und OC waren etwas st{\"a}rker exprimiert. Den Ergebnissen nach zu schließen beg{\"u}nstigte BMP-2 bei der Kultivierung von MSZ in Kollagen I Hydrogelen in vitro eine eher chondrogene Differenzierung. Zumindest in Kombination mit Kollagen I Hydrogelen scheint daher BMP-2 als osteogener Wachstumsfaktor bei der Herstellung stammzellbasierter Konstrukte f{\"u}r den Knochenersatz weniger geeignet. Nach Kultur in osteogenem Medium konnte gegen{\"u}ber der SZM Gruppe eine deutliche Mehrexpression aller getesteten, osteogenen Marker, insbesondere auch von Cbfa1 und OC, nachgewiesen werden. Allerdings zeigte sich auch bei den chondrogenen Markergenen wie Col II eine geringe Zunahme der Genexpression. Das osteogene Medium induzierte demnach MSZ in Kollagen I Gelen vorwiegend eine osteogene Differenzierung. Entsprechend konnte in den histologischen Untersuchungen die Bildung einer mineralisierten, extrazellul{\"a}ren Matrix nachgewiesen werden. Weiterhin konnte im Rahmen dieser Arbeit in vitro aus einem Kollagen I Gel, MSZ und einem PCL-Scaffold ein Konstrukt hergestellt werden, das die Regeneration segmentaler Knochendefekte positiv beeinflussen k{\"o}nnte. Es zeigte sich ein gutes Bonding an der Grenzfl{\"a}che zwischen Kollagen Gel und 54 PCL-Scaffold. Das Kollagen Gel hatte die makropor{\"o}sen und mikropor{\"o}sen Freir{\"a}ume des Scaffolds komplett ausgef{\"u}llt, wodurch eine homogene Verteilung der MSZ innerhalb des Scaffolds erreicht werden konnte.},
  language  = {de}
}