Introducing Controlled Microporosity in Melt Electrowriting

Melt electrowriting (MEW) enables the electric field-assisted digital fabrication of precisely defined scaffold architectures micron-sized fibers. However, charge accumulation and consequent disruption precoded pattern by fiber bridging prevents controlled printing at small interfiber distances. This, together with periodical layer stacking characteristic for additive manufacturing, typically results in scaffolds channel-like macroporosity, which need to be combined other biofabrication techniques achieve desired microporosity cellular infiltration. Therefore, a design strategy is devised introduce interconnected directly MEW an algorithm that creates arrays bridging-free parallel fibers, angularly shifted from starting random point avoid stacking, hence pores while defining micropores. This work hypothesizes pore size can controlled, decoupled diameter, mechanical properties, including anisotropy ratio, tuned. The authors demonstrate this leveraging platform both flat seamless tubular characterize them via micro-computed tomography tensile loading. Lastly, successful cell ingrowth into micropores extracellular matrix formation are shown. microporous entirely tailored architectural requirements target tissues.