Biological and mechanical characterization of biodegradable carbonyl iron powder/polycaprolactone composite material fabricated using three-dimensional printing for cardiovascular stent application.

Biological and mechanical properties of biodegradable polymeric composite materials are strongly influenced by the choice of appropriate reinforcement in the polymer matrix. Non-compatibility of material in the vascular system could obstruct the way of the biological fluids. The concept of development of polymeric composite material for vascular implants is to provide enough support to the vessel and to restore the vessel in the natural state after degradation. In this research, the polycaprolactone composite materials (carbonyl iron powder/polycaprolactone) were developed by reinforcement of the 0%-2% of carbonyl iron powder using the solvent cast three-dimensional printing technique. The physicochemical properties of developed composites were characterized in conjunction with mechanical and biological properties. The mechanical characterizations were assessed by uniaxial tensile testing as well as flexibility testing. The results of mechanical testing assured that carbonyl iron powder/polycaprolactone composites have shown desirable properties for vascular implants. Besides the mechanical characterization, in vitro biological investigations of carbonyl iron powder/polycaprolactone were done for analyzing blood compatibility and cytocompatibility. The results revealed that the materials developed were biocompatible, less hemolytic, and having non-thrombogenic properties indicating the promising applications in the field of cardiovascular applications.