Facile and rapid fabrication of a novel 3D-printable, visible light-crosslinkable and bioactive polythiourethane for large-to-massive rotator cuff tendon repair.

ABSTRACT: Facile and rapid 3D fabrication of strong, bioactive materials can address challenges that impede repair of large-to-massive rotator cuff tears including personalized grafts, limited mechanical support, and inadequate tissue regeneration. Herein, we developed a facile and rapid methodology that generates visible light-crosslinkable polythiourethane (PHT) pre-polymer resin (∼30 min at room temperature), yielding 3D-printable scaffolds with tendon-like mechanical attributes capable of delivering tenogenic bioactive factors. Ex vivo characterization confirmed successful fabrication, robust human supraspinatus tendon (SST)-like tensile properties (strength: 23 MPa, modulus: 459 MPa, at least 10,000 physiological loading cycles without failure), excellent suture retention (8.62-fold lowe

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11063952 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature