A new photo-processable hybrid copolymer based on gelatin-poly(trimethylene carbonate) (Gel-g-PTMCn) was elaborated and showed a promising potential as resin for stereolithography towards the fabrication of scaffold for tissue engineering. Various lengths of PTMC were grafted from gelatin using hydroxy and amino side groups of the constitutive amino acids. The characterization of resulting hybrid copolymers was fully investigated by quantitative NMR spectroscopy before rendering them photosensitive by methacrylation of the PTMC terminal groups (Gel-g-PTMCn-MA). Homogeneous composition of the photo-crosslinked hybrid polymers was demonstrated by EDX spectroscopy and electronic microscopy. By performing subsequently water absorption,contact angle measurements, and degradation study we also showed the contribution of PTMC amount on the hybrid polymer behavior. The photo-crosslinked materials immersed in water were examined by using tensile experiments and displayed a large panel of materials from hydrogel to elastomer-like. Moreover, the absence of cytotoxicity conducted following the ISO10993 assay, validated the potential of such hybrid polymers in tissue engineering. As proof-of-concept 3D porous objects were successfully fabricated using stereolithography showing the great potential of those hybrid copolymers to be used as scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

The development of hydrogel materials in additive manufacturing displaying stiff and strong mechanical properties while maintaining high water uptake, remains a great challenge. Taking advantage of the versatility of poly(oxazoline)...

Semi-crystalline poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) can be efficiently prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) initiated by amine using various catalysts. More promising results were reached with the one-step process of stannous octanoate unlike the two-step one-pot reaction using TBD and MSA catalysts. The ROP-amine of TMC consists in a simple isocyanate free process to produce polycarbonate-urethanes, compatible with the large availability of amines ranging from mono- to multifunctional until natural amino acids. ROP-amine of TMC leads to urethane bonds monitored by FTIR spectroscopy. The relationship between the nature of amines and the crystallinity of PTMC was discussed through X-ray diffraction and thermal studies by DSC and TGA. The impact of the crystallinity was also demonstrated on the mechanical properties of semi-crystalline PTMC in comparison to amorphous PTMC, synthesized by ROP initiated by alcohol. The semi-crystalline PTMC synthesized by ROP-amine opens many perspectives.