Additive manufacturing using multilayered polymer composites for cardiac patches application

Developing cardiac patches using synthetic polymers to treat heart diseases remains challenging for the scientific community. A novel fabrication scheme was explored to produce multilayered architecture material for cardiac patches application by combining co-extrusion of polymers, additive manufacturing and partial sacrificial layer removal techniques. After co-extrusion, continuous interphase was observed between the two immiscible polymers, layer thickness decreased gradually from the fabricated PLA/TPU filament to the FFF 3D printed structure, and most importantly, layers integrity was preserved. Heart cells cultured on the multilayered samples revealed spontaneously active, synchronous and rhythmic contraction proving its potential for heart patches application.