Chemical enhancements and advanced manufacturing methods of Poly(Lactic acid) for tissue engineering applications

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a highly versatile biobased polymer with significant promise as a 3D-printable material for tissue engineering applications. PLA is sustainably produced at low cost, and exhibits properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, appreciable mechanical properties, and its potential for modification by a multitude of different additives and processing methods. This work provides an overview of recent research on the advanced manufacturing of PLA for tissue engineering applications. It also covers most widely used additives and surface modifications to PLA, the effects of different processing methods, and the current shortcomings and future directions in this field.