Ultraviolet-Assisted Direct Ink Writing of Biodegradable Tissue Scaffold for Pelvic Floor Prolapse (POP)

Pelvic floor prolapse (POP) is a disorder bothering a growing number of women. A sedentary lifestyle and longer life expectancy are increasing the risk of this dysfunction. Re-classifying the current polypropylene mesh as a high-risk device by FDA is announcing the urgent need for new biocompatible materials for reconstructive surgeries. As a biocompatible polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was functionalized to adapt to direct ink writing. The thiol-norbornene UV-initiated reaction was the key to the sol-gel transition during the printing, where the rheology properties changed rapidly to maintain the printed geometry. Rapid prototyping can adjust the morphology and the pore size of the scaffolds to benefit tissue growth. The biocompatibility was proven by the cell proliferation test, which can potentially change the immune response compared to traditional materials. Moreover, post-printing treatment further increased the crosslink density of the scaffold so that a proper degradation rate was obtained. Consequently, mechanical support would be valid during the neotissue growth, and removal surgery is unnecessary. This research offers a new solution to POP by applying a more bioactive material and sheds light on personalized medicine with additive manufacturing.