3D-Printable PEG Polymer Could Transform MedTech

University of Virginia engineers have made a significant breakthrough in polymer technology. Their new design offers greater resilience and flexibility than predecessors. Additionally, it’s 3D printable and human safe, opening the door for innovations across several industries. Here’s what you need to know.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) networks

This work centers around Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) networks. These structures have gained increasing adoption in the biomedical field, where they are critical for tissue engineering, drug delivery, and other life-saving applications.

Polyethylene glycol was first produced in 1859, when Portuguese chemist A.V. Lourenço and French chemist Charles Adolphe Wurtz independently reported polyethylene glycol products. PEG’s biomedical use expanded significantly after it entered major pharmacopoeias around the mid-20th century. Since that time, PEG has improved in its design and development. Recently, it’s been explored as a viable way to create battery cells as well.

Problems with PEG

Despite its growing applications, several drawbacks remain to be overcome to enhance its usefulness further. For one, the current production method is expensive and cumbersome.

It utilizes a water-based system that supports the cross-linking of linear polymers. The water acts as support for the structure as it crystallizes. After the polymer network forms, the water is drained, leaving the finished structure.

This approach is time-consuming, expensive, and not scalable. Additionally, the resulting PEG networks are very fragile. These brittle crystalline structures lack flexibility, limiting their applications, especially when discussing biomedical applications.

3D Printed Polymer Study

A team of engineers just unlocked a way to produce PEG networks more easily, delivering more flexible alternatives than today’s options. The recently published study Additive Manufacturing of Molecular Architecture Encoded Stretchable Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogels and Elastomers¹ introduces an entirely new approach to PEG networks that has the potential to drive adoption forward.

Source- Advanced Materials

Why Stretchability Matters in PEG Networks

At the core of this research is a desire to make PEG networks more flexible. Stretchable PEG networks could fulfill more tasks. For example, they could be used in more medical applications and on a larger scale, with the end goal being to use these structures as scaffolding for synthetic organ growth.

Immune Safe

As part of this study, the team needed to ensure that their PEG network material alterations wouldn’t cause any immune response. Your immune system detects foreign intruders and removes them from your system, which becomes a problem when discussing implants. As such, the engineers started the process by exploring and synthesizing immune-safe materials and structures.

3D Printable

The next step was to ensure the material was 3D printable. This research eventually led the team to highly stretchable PEG-based hydrogels that integrated solvent-free elastomers. They noted that, unlike the water-based approach, these networks could be created using rapid photopolymerization and available commercial chemicals.

Complex Structures

The decision to rely on 3D printers was a major step that opened the door for more intricate and useful design parameters. The team also noted that they can alter the structures into intricate patterns simply by adjusting the UV lights.

Notably, they created several different structures that each provided its unique benefits. Some of the structures were stiff, and others could be stretched or bent. Notably, each was created using solvent-free elastomers, which enhanced their adjustability.

Foldable Bottlebrush

The engineers determined that linear chains were not the best option. Instead, they introduced a foldable bottlebrush architecture. This design utilizes internal structures to add mechanical capabilities such as twisting, stretching, and bending.

The bottlebrush architecture enabled the engines to prevent crystallization. In turn, this improved the durability of the structure. This new high-strength polymer can be made to extend like an accordion without compromising strength. The engineers concluded that the bottlebrush architecture should be broadly compatible with most PEG-based polymer systems, significantly expanding its potential range of biomedical and engineering applications.

Layering

Keenly, the team built up the structure using a layering approach. Each layer was created under the UV light, cured, and the next layer was built on top. The process took seconds to complete and included the printing of complex geometries.

Testing Biocompatibility and Structural Performance

The testing phase saw engineers checking that the PEG was cell-compatible, which was a main concern for use in tissue scaffolding applications. As part of this test, the team created cell cultures that they introduced to the scaffolding and then monitored for reactions.

The researchers also examined the processes’ ability to support complex structures. For example, they printed cytocompatible organ-like geometries.

Mechanical Strength & Biocompatibility Results

Their test results were inspiring. The team noted that their PEG network was both mechanically resilient and biocompatible. The test showed that the cultured cells continued their activities without adverse reaction to the PEG network, opening the door to possible medical uses.

The test also revealed how much more durable the structures were compared to their predecessors. Specifically, the hydrogels and elastomers had moduli ranging from ≈1 to ≈100 kPa. They also improved tensile breaking strain strength by 1500%.

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Advanced Architecture

The study showed that the 3D printing method provides the most flexibility in terms of structural design. Each structure was printed in a targeted manner without any loss of stretchability. Additionally, the entire process was conducted at room temperature.

Key Benefits of 3D-Printable PEG Materials

There are several benefits that 3D printable PEG materials bring to the market. For one, they are more eco-friendly. The room temperature process reduces costs and complications, enabling large-scale production in the future.

Versatility

The versatility of the 3D printed approach can’t be overlooked. The use of 3D printers enables engineers to create more advanced structures, which one day could be a critical component of artificially grown organs and other advanced medical technologies.

Real-World Applications & Timeline for 3D-Printable PEG

The list of applications for photocurable bottlebrush PEG networks includes several industries. These microscopic networks could serve as the base for micro-architected metals, functional biomimetic vascular networks, and beyond. Here are some potential applications for this technology.

MedTech

The primary and most significant application of this technology is in the field of regenerative medicine. The waiting list for organs continues to grow. Sadly, people will never receive the organ needed to undergo a transplant to improve their lives. However, the ability to grow human organs could alleviate this problem globally and usher in a new age of medical care.

Battery Technology

Another promising use case for this technology is in the creation of more powerful and lightweight batteries. These structures could act as cells, enabling ultra-high-performance solid-state electrolytes.

Commercialization Timeline for Bottlebrush PEG

This technology could hit the market within the next 5 years. There’s strong demand for lighter, more resilient battery options, and this technology could help make that goal a reality.

It may be 10 years or more before the technology is advanced enough to be used for growing artificial organs. There’s still more research, including testing and regulatory approval, which could slow the process down further.

3D Printed Polymer Researchers

The University of Virginia’s Soft Biomatter Laboratory led this study. The paper lists Baiqiang Huang, Myoeum Kim, Pu Zhang, Emmanuel Oduro, Daniel A. Rau, and Li-Heng Cai as the main contributors. Notably, this work builds on other projects in which this team created ultra-durable synthetic polymers.

The study received funding from the UVA LaunchPad for Diabetes, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation’s Commonwealth Commercialization fund.

3D Printed Polymer Future

The engineers will now seek to investigate other structures and materials. Their goal is to develop other 3D printable materials that support specific tasks, opening the door for lighter and more durable products, treatments, and more.

Investing in MedTech Innovations

Several biotech firms continue to push the boundaries in terms of tissue creation and other medtech developments. These companies spend millions yearly researching different ways to improve current approaches or develop better methods. Here’s one company that continues to drive innovation in the biotech market.

United Therapeutics

Maryland-based United Therapeutics entered the market in 1996. Its founder, Martine Rothblatt, saw a dire need for better treatments after her daughter was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and she built the company around developing life-saving therapies for this rare and often fatal disease.

United Therapeutics has several treatments and medications used globally. Specifically, their main product is Remodulin (treprostinil). This medication has been found to assist with PAH and other heart-related illnesses. Those seeking an established medtech company that was built with a clear purpose should do further research into United Therapeutics.

Latest  United Therapeutics (UTHR) Stock News and Performance

3D Printed Polymer | Conclusion

The work put forth by these engineers will have a strong impact on the medical and battery fields in the coming decade. Additionally, it will help inspire innovation across multiple industries, which could lead to life-saving medical breakthroughs in this lifetime. As such, these engineers deserve a standing ovation.

Learn about other Interesting BioTech Breakthroughs Here.

References

^{1. Huang, B., Kim, M., Zhang, P., Oduro, E., Rau, D. A., & Cai, H. Additive Manufacturing of Molecular Architecture Encoded Stretchable Polyethylene Glycol Hydrogels and Elastomers. Advanced Materials, e12806. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202512806}