Mask projection microstereolithography of novel biocompatible polymers

Mask Projection Microstereolithography (MPμSL) selectively cures entire layers of photopolymer to create three-dimensional parts with features on the micron scale. The resolution and scale of MPμSL are ideal for fabricating tissue engineering scaffolds with designed mesostructure. While MPμSL have excellent resolution, there are few biocompatible materials that are compatible with the vat photopolymerization processes. A novel diacrylate functionalized Pluronic L-31 block-copolymer and poly(propylene glycol diacrylate) were synthesized and processed with MPμSL. The resulting structures were analyzed for biocompatibility, as well as accuracy and mechanical strength to assess feasibility for use in tissue engineering scaffold fabrication. Preliminary fabricated scaffold geometries are presented to validate experimental results.