Effect of angular variation and in vitro degradation on mechanical properties of PBAT 3D scaffolds

The customization of polymeric prototypes is available to meet the specific needs of individual patients, considering tissue location and patient-specific characteristics. Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) has shown great promise among various polymers in this scenario due to its biodegradability and processability properties. However, the effect of geometry changes on the mechanical properties of PBAT 3D scaffolds and their mechanical stability after in vitro degradation are crucial to determining the final application. This study focuses on the structural, morphological, and mechanical characterization of PBAT prototypes with different architectures and evaluating their mechanical properties before and after in vitro degradation. Three-dimensional structures were 3D printed with rectilinear deposition angles of 15(degrees), 30(degrees), 45(degrees), 60(degrees), 75(degrees) and 90(degrees). Mechanical tests revealed that the prototype architecture influenced the stiffness, elongation, and maximum tension, where a greater resistance was observed for filaments containing the lowest angles. The thermal stability of PBAT remained unaffected either by reprocessing or hydrolytic degradation; however, in vitro degradation affected the mechanical behavior by increasing the stiffness and decreasing the elongation of the scaffold. Biological assays have demonstrated the nontoxic nature of PBAT and its potential to promote cell viability at a rate of 95%. These findings underscore the possibility of optimizing the PBAT design and structure to tune the mechanical properties and contribute to advancing tissue engineering strategies.