Thermal extrusion three-dimensional printing of copolymer polyethylene glycol and poly-ε-caprolactone matrix structures

Abstract

The process of formation of matrix structures (matrices) from bioresorbable triblock polyethylene glycol and poly-ε-caprolactone copolymers with different molecular weights, as well as their composites with finely divided hydroxyapatite (particle size is about 1 μm), was developed and studied with thermal extrusion three-dimensional printing. The internal structure and surface morphology of the matrices obtained were investigated with optical and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of extruder temperature and flow rate of a polymer melt through the extruder on molecular weight distribution of the starting copolymers and formation of solid-state microstructures from them was studied with gel permeation chromatography