Universal Solvent Escape Strategies for Efficient Curing of Hydrogen‐Bond‐Rich 3D Printing Inks

Hydrogen-bonded polymers have attracted significant interest in biomedical applications due to their excellent biocompatibility, adjustable mechanical properties, and responsiveness to environmental cues. However, these materials face substantial challenges in direct ink writing, primarily arising from persistent solvent entrapment within dense hydrogen-bonded networks. This trapped solvent severely impairs the printability, drying efficiency, and structural fidelity of scaffolds. To overcome these limitations, this study introduced innovative universal solvent escape strategies integrating three key mechanisms: first, solvent replacement disrupted existing hydrogen-bonded polymer complexes; second, nanoparticle-induced microturbulence significantly enhanced solvent evaporation rates; third, computationally optimized printing paths facilitated efficient solvent evacuation. Molecular dynamics simulations provided quantitative insights into how various ways can effectively destroy hydrogen bond solvent networks, allowing rapid solvent removal. Finite element analysis accurately visualized the curing behavior to maximize solvent extraction. This integrated strategy enabled exceptionally rapid (< 3 min) and structurally precise scaffold fabrication across diverse hydrogen-bonded polymers, including chitosan, collagen, and cellulose. Furthermore, these scaffolds exhibited multifunctional capabilities, utilizing hydrogen-bonding networks for both structural integrity and pH-responsive drug delivery. Functional scaffold confirmed significantly improved osteogenic and angiogenic performance via enhanced calcium signaling and activation of HIF-1α pathways, thereby advancing the fields of tissue engineering and controlled therapeutic delivery.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-01-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202517023
Primary Topic
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Universal Solvent Escape Strategies for Efficient Curing of Hydrogen‐Bond‐Rich 3D Printing Inks

Ying Zhao, Xi Zhang, Jianzhong Chen, Qian Ma et al.
Advanced Science
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
article

Universal Solvent Escape Strategies for Efficient Curing of Hydrogen‐Bond‐Rich 3D Printing Inks

Ying Zhao, Xi Zhang, Jianzhong Chen, Qian Ma, Liyuan Shao, Weihua Guo, Wentao Fu, Gaiying Ye, Lin Zhao, Qinglei Meng, Weixian Chen, Qing Zhao
article en

Abstract

Hydrogen-bonded polymers have attracted significant interest in biomedical applications due to their excellent biocompatibility, adjustable mechanical properties, and responsiveness to environmental cues. However, these materials face substantial challenges in direct ink writing, primarily arising from persistent solvent entrapment within dense hydrogen-bonded networks. This trapped solvent severely impairs the printability, drying efficiency, and structural fidelity of scaffolds. To overcome these limitations, this study introduced innovative universal solvent escape strategies integrating three key mechanisms: first, solvent replacement disrupted existing hydrogen-bonded polymer complexes; second, nanoparticle-induced microturbulence significantly enhanced solvent evaporation rates; third, computationally optimized printing paths facilitated efficient solvent evacuation. Molecular dynamics simulations provided quantitative insights into how various ways can effectively destroy hydrogen bond solvent networks, allowing rapid solvent removal. Finite element analysis accurately visualized the curing behavior to maximize solvent extraction. This integrated strategy enabled exceptionally rapid (< 3 min) and structurally precise scaffold fabrication across diverse hydrogen-bonded polymers, including chitosan, collagen, and cellulose. Furthermore, these scaffolds exhibited multifunctional capabilities, utilizing hydrogen-bonding networks for both structural integrity and pH-responsive drug delivery. Functional scaffold confirmed significantly improved osteogenic and angiogenic performance via enhanced calcium signaling and activation of HIF-1α pathways, thereby advancing the fields of tissue engineering and controlled therapeutic delivery.

Advanced ScienceVol. 13(12)
Kunming Medical University (CN), Stomatology Hospital (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Major Science and Technology Projects in Yunnan Province
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 74%
3D Printing in Biomedical Research
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