PMMA, PC, and PEEK are thermoplastic polymers that possess favorable properties for biomedical applications. These polymers have been used in fields of maxillo-facial, orthopedic, intraocular surgery, and bio-implant, due to their excellent mechanical properties, osteoinductive potential, and antimicrobial capabilities. In this study, the effect of heat treatment on the mechanical properties of 3D printed polymers was characterized. By modifying printing temperature and post heat treatment process, the mechanical properties were specifically tailored for different applications, correlating with the properties of the implants that are commonly made using molding processes.

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Extracellular Matrix (ECM), a natural biomaterials, have recently garnered attention in tissue engineering for their high degree of cell proliferative capacity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tenability in the body. Decellularization process offers a unique approach for fabricating ECM-based natural scaffold for tissue engineering application by removing intracellular contents in a tissue that could cause any adverse host responses. The effects of Supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2) treatment on the histological and biochemical properties of the decellularized extracellular matrix (de-ECM) were evaluated and compared with de-ECM from conventional decellularization process to see if it offers significantly reduced treatment times, complete decellularization, and well preserved extracellular matrix structure. The study has shown that a novel method of using supercritical fluid extraction system indeed removed all unnecessary residues and only leaving ECM. The potential of Sc-CO2 de-ECM progressed as a promising approach in tissue repair and regeneration.