Page 505 - IJB-10-3

International Journal of Bioprinting 3D printing microgroove nerve conduits

Figure 3. (a) AFM results of flat PCL, PLA, and PCL/PLA thin films with different concentration. (i) Images of the films and roughness comparison among
(ii) the PCL, PLA, and PCL/PLA thin films (3 wt% concentration), (iii) different concentration PCL films, and (iv) different concentration PCL/PLA films.
(b) 3D LSCM results of 3D-printed master mould and 3 wt% microgroove thin films. (i) Images of the 3D-printed moulds and thin films, (ii) the RMS
roughness result, and (iii) the mean roughness result.

films, an observation consistent with previous studies. 30,54 the 20 µm thickness PCL groups (~17.5 MPa) showed the
Thus, the material compositions follow a trend of maximum highest tensile strength followed by the 30 µm PCL groups
tensile strength and strain at breaking of PCL>PCL/PLA (~16.5 MPa). Whilst the 10 µm thickness PCL group
and Young’s modulus of PCL/PLA>PCL. yielded the highest strain value (~4.04 mm/mm), smaller
thickness resulted in high elongation or stretching.
No significant difference in mechanical properties
was observed as a function of microgroove size with The effect of different polymer concentrations (1, 3,
the same film thickness. The total mass of the film is the and 5 wt%) used during solvent casting on the mechanical
same regardless of microgroove dimensions; therefore, properties was observed using the 10 µm thickness films
any contribution by the microgroove topography to the (Figure 5b). The mechanical properties for material
mechanical properties is not observed or is negligible. composition follow a similar trend.
However, the thickness of the films had a significant PCL-10 samples have a higher tensile strength and
influence on the mechanical properties. Among them, maximum strain at breaking, and lower Young’s modulus

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 497 doi: 10.36922/ijb.2725