@article{PienBartolf–KoppParmentieretal.2022,
  author    = {Pien, Nele and Bartolf-Kopp, Michael and Parmentier, Laurens and Delaey, Jasper and de Vos, Lobke and Mantovani, Diego and van Vlierberghe, Sandra and Dubruel, Peter and Jungst, Tomasz},
  title     = {Melt Electrowriting of a Photo-Crosslinkable Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Based Material into Tubular Constructs with Predefined Architecture and Tunable Mechanical Properties},
  series = {Macromolecular Materials and Engineering},
  volume    = {307},
  journal   = {Macromolecular Materials and Engineering},
  number    = {7},
  issn      = {1438-7492},
  doi       = {10.1002/mame.202200097},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318524},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an additive manufacturing process that produces highly defined constructs with elements in the micrometer range. A specific configuration of MEW enables printing tubular constructs to create small-diameter tubular structures. The small pool of processable materials poses a bottleneck for wider application in biomedicine. To alleviate this obstacle, an acrylate-endcapped urethane-based polymer (AUP), using a poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) (molar mass: 20 000 g mol\(^{-1}\)) (AUP PCL20k) as backbone material, is synthesized and utilized for MEW. Spectroscopic analysis confirms the successful modification of the PCL backbone with photo-crosslinkable acrylate endgroups. Printing experiments of AUP PCL20k reveal limited printability but the photo-crosslinking ability is preserved post-printing. To improve printability and to tune the mechanical properties of printed constructs, the AUP-material is blended with commercially available PCL (AUP PCL20k:PCL in ratios 80:20, 60:40, 50:50). Print fidelity improves for 60:40 and 50:50 blends. Blending enables modification of the constructs' mechanical properties to approximate the range of blood vessels for transplantation surgeries. The crosslinking-ability of the material allows pure AUP to be manipulated post-printing and illustrates significant differences in mechanical properties of 80:20 blends after crosslinking. An in vitro cell compatibility assay using human umbilical vein endothelial cells also demonstrates the material's non-cytotoxicity.},
  language  = {en}
}