Analysis of 3D-Printed Vascular Scaffold At Varying Extruder Temperature And Flow Rate

Chai Ying Yee, Scotrraaj Gopal, Nurul Huda Baktehir, Muhammad Syukri Mohd, Nur Amira Sulong, Sazatul Nadhirah Zakaria, Nur Eszaty Farain Esa, Norhana Jusoh*

Abstract

Three dimensional (3D) vascular scaffolds architecture must meet the requirements such as biocompatibility, biodegradability and high porosity. One of the important mechanical properties is the scaffold porosity that is related the pore size. Besides mechanical properties, scaffold porosity also can influence the biological properties such as cell attachment, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation. Meanwhile, 3D printing techniques have been used widely in producing customized scaffolds from the microscale to the macroscale by using a layer by layer approach. Eventually, 3D printing parameters play an important role in determining the pore size of the printed scaffold. Therefore, by using polylactic acid (PLA), here we investigated the effect of temperature and flow rate on 3D-printed scaffold to determine the optimum combined parameter in producing a vascular scaffold with the desired porosity properties. In this study, the best combined parameter was 230°C as temperature and 100 mm/s as the printing speed to enable the 3D printer to replicate a high accuracy 3D scaffold.