3D lithography enables production of monolithic, biodegradable 3D scaffolds of one cubic centimeter for the first time in under 1.5 hours

Biodegradable, osteochondral and tailor-made

Using its core technology 3D lithography via two-photon polymerization (2PP), Multiphoton Optics has succeeded for the first time in producing a biodegradable, osteochondral 3D scaffold (3D support structure) of approximately one cubic centimeter in less than one and a half hours in just one single process step. Due to the time-saving production of monolithic biphasic implants for applications in regenerative medicine, implants can be adapted to requirements in the future and, for example, manufactured immediately before surgery. 

Another major advantage of using biodegradable, tailor-made bone-cartilage implants is, that in the event of a disease-related defect, only a single surgery for the patient is required, thus making a significant contribution to minimizing healthcare costs. 

Project promotes production, analysis and use of implants to stimulate tissue regeneration of bone-cartilage defects

The basis for the technological implementation is a prototype of the Multiphoton Optics’ 3D printing platform LithoProf3D, which has been optimized specifically for the fabrication of scaffolds through further automation of process steps within the system and the control software developed by Multiphoton Optics. The development is part of the ‘Poly-IMPLANT-Druck’ project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The aim of the project is the fabrication, analysis and field tests of monolithic biphasic implants to stimulate tissue regeneration of bone-cartilage defects. The fabricated 3D scaffolds serve as mechanical support structure as well as bioactive carrier which provides an optimal culture medium for cell growth. The scaffold, based on a biomimetic design by iba Heiligenstadt e.V., features a height of 10 mm and a diameter of 7 mm and is divided by a separation layer into a 3 mm tall cartilage phase and a 7 mm tall bone phase (see Figure).

Important step towards scalability: production of the "scaffolds" within 1.5 hours

Due to complete freedom of design, the mechanical properties such as porosity and Young's modulus of the respective phases can be adjusted to closely resemble real examples of bone and cartilage. The newly developed prototype enables the fabrication of the approximately 1 cm³ scaffolds within 1.5 hours, which is a first important step towards scalability. The biodegradable material used was poly-((D, L)-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone)-dimethacrylate (LCM3) developed by iba Heiligenstadt e.V., which will later be replaced by poly(amide-co-ε-caprolactone)-dimethacrylate (ACM), as the latter can be better degraded by the body. Cell and filling tests of the scaffolds are currently being carried out at iba Heiligenstadt e.V. and other project partners, after which an animal study is to follow over the next few years. 

A further increase in the degree of automation of the printing platform should further increase the production throughput in the future and enable series production, also in other application areas. In addition, individually designed 3D scaffolds will open up new therapeutic options for personalized medicine in the future.

Contact: Sonja Pfeuffer, Multiphoton Optics
press@multiphoton.de