Abstract
Biodegradable polymers have attracted increasing attention in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems owing to their high biocompatibility and biodegradability. Among the various methods for shape forming and modification of biodegradable polymers, laser processing has advantages in a dry processing approach that can process complex-shaped surfaces without using toxic chemical components. This review provides an overview of femtosecond laser processing of biodegradable polymers, especially in the last decade. The interaction mechanism of femtosecond laser pulse and biodegradable polymers, e.g., bond dissociation after laser irradiation, affects the degradable property of biodegradable polymers, which has the potential to control the degradation and sustainability of a structure. Applied studies on controlling cell behavior, tissue scaffolding, and drug release are also described.
Highlights
Cells, growth factors, and scaffolds are essential elements for the regeneration of a three-dimensional (3D) structure in tissue engineering
These in results demonstrate the potential of by femtosecond laser pulses. These results demonstrate the potential of femtosecond laser processing for controlling the processing for controlling the degradation rate after form shaping and structuring by selecting a degradation rate after form shaping and structuring by selecting a suitable wavelength
The degradation rate a biodegradable polymer after laser irradiation been explained thethe decrease in in crystallinity associated with surface melting, and in in molecular weight owing to to thethe decrease crystallinity associated with surface melting, and molecular weight owing photolysis of chemical bonds
Summary
Growth factors, and scaffolds are essential elements for the regeneration of a three-dimensional (3D) structure in tissue engineering. Customization in shape forming is required in many cases in biomedical applications to fabricate tailored products for patients Laser processing enables such tailored fabrication because of its suitability for computer-aided scanning and processing without a mold, which shows great potential for use in the technological transition from mass production to mass customization. Because many biodegradable polymers show large optical absorption in ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths and less absorption at visible to near-infrared wavelengths, lasers oscillating at UV wavelengths have been used for processing in cases of nanosecond laser-based fabrication [1,2,3,4]. Because femtosecond lasers enable the processing of transparent materials via nonlinear optical interaction, femtosecond lasers have opened up new avenues to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) structures with visible and near-infrared wavelengths. Laser processing properties are introduced, along with micro- and nanostructuring, changes in biodegradability by laser irradiation, and experimental demonstrations for potential applications
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
