Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed resorbable star PPF 4D printed structures with compressive shape memory properties. In some embodiments, these printed structures may be compressed at room temperature from a first thickness to a second thickness for insertion into the body, where they reach body temperature and expand into a desired (third) thickness. The compression and expansion of these resorbable star PPF 4D printed structures allows for easier insertion of things such as, bone scaffold and stents (e.g., vascular stents, kidney stents, urethral stents, colitis stents, esophageal stents, colon stents, intestinal stents, or venous stents) into the body, as they can be compressed prior to insertion.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the invention relates to poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF)-based star-shaped copolymers synthesized using a core-first approach that uses a multi-functional alcohols as an initiator, and Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 as catalyst for controlled ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of maleic anhydride (MAn) with propylene oxide (PO). In some embodiments, these star-PPF copolymers have lower viscosities than their linear analogs, allowing a decrease in DEF fraction in resin formulation, as well as the use of higher molecular weights. These star-shape PPF can be used to prepare PPF:DEF resins containing as much as 70% by weight of the multi-arm PPF star copolymers, and have a low complex viscosity of high Mn star PPF resin that affords rapid printing with a Mn nearly eight times larger than the largest linear PPF oligomer printed previously.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the invention relates to poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF)-based star-shaped copolymers synthesized using a core-first approach that uses a multi-functional alcohols as an initiator, and Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 as catalyst for controlled ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of maleic anhydride (MAn) with propylene oxide (PO). In some embodiments, these star-PPF copolymers have lower viscosities than their linear analogs, allowing a decrease in DEF fraction in resin formulation, as well as the use of higher molecular weights. These star-shape PPF can be used to prepare PPF:DEF resins containing as much as 70% by weight of the multi-arm PPF star copolymers, and have a low complex viscosity of high Mn star PPF resin that affords rapid printing with a Mn nearly eight times larger than the largest linear PPF oligomer printed previously.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a PPF-based copolymer for 3D printing applications and methods for its making and use. These copolymers have a viscosity in a printable viscosity range and allow light transmittance at curing wavelengths. In various embodiments, a lower viscosity copolymers are obtained by substitution of a portion of maleic anhydride with succinic anhydride and then forming a poly(propylene fumarate-co-succinate) copolymer by the copolymerization of maleic anhydride and succinic anhydride with propylene oxide via Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 catalyzed ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP). Because of their lower viscosities, these copolymers require less, if any, diethyl fumarate (DEF) to prepare the 3D printing resin, while the mechanical properties can still be adjusted as with a PPF polymer prepared without the succinic anhydride.