{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T03:13:01Z","timestamp":1792033981834,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,14]],"date-time":"2021-02-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1613260800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Although bioabsorbable polymers have garnered increasing attention because of their potential in tissue engineering applications, to our knowledge there are only a few bioabsorbable 3D printed medical devices on the market thus far. In this study, we assessed the processability of medical grade Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) Acid (PLGA)85:15 via two additive manufacturing technologies: Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and Direct Pellet Printing (DPP) to highlight the least destructive technology towards PLGA. To quantify PLGA degradation, its molecular weight (gel permeation chromatography (GPC)) as well as its thermal properties (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) were evaluated at each processing step, including sterilization with conventional methods (ethylene oxide, gamma, and beta irradiation). Results show that 3D printing of PLGA on a DPP printer significantly decreased the number-average molecular weight (Mn) to the greatest extent (26% Mn loss, p &lt; 0.0001) as it applies a longer residence time and higher shear stress compared to classic FFF (19% Mn loss, p &lt; 0.0001). Among all sterilization methods tested, ethylene oxide seems to be the most appropriate, as it leads to no significant changes in PLGA properties. After sterilization, all samples were considered to be non-toxic, as cell viability was above 70% compared to the control, indicating that this manufacturing route could be used for the development of bioabsorbable medical devices. Based on our observations, we recommend using FFF printing and ethylene oxide sterilization to produce PLGA medical devices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym13040572","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,14]],"date-time":"2021-02-14T08:53:56Z","timestamp":1613292836000},"page":"572","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":28,"title":["Effects of Two Melt Extrusion Based Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Common Sterilization Methods on the Properties of a Medical Grade PLGA Copolymer"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6529-8384","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marion","family":"Gradwohl","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"U1008 Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and Biomaterials, Institut National de la Sant\u00e9 et de la Recherche M\u00e9dicale (INSERM), Centre Hospitalier R\u00e9gional Universitaire de Lille (CHU Lille), University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France"},{"name":"UMR 9020\u2013UMR-S 1277\u2013Canther\u2013Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Institut de Recherche contre le Cancer de Lille, University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France"},{"name":"LATTICE MEDICAL, F-59120 Loos, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Feng","family":"Chai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"U1008 Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and Biomaterials, Institut National de la Sant\u00e9 et de la Recherche M\u00e9dicale (INSERM), Centre Hospitalier R\u00e9gional Universitaire de Lille (CHU Lille), University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Julien","family":"Payen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LATTICE MEDICAL, F-59120 Loos, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pierre","family":"Guerreschi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"U1008 Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and Biomaterials, Institut National de la Sant\u00e9 et de la Recherche M\u00e9dicale (INSERM), Centre Hospitalier R\u00e9gional Universitaire de Lille (CHU Lille), University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France"},{"name":"Service de Chirurgie Plastique Reconstructrice et Esth\u00e9tique, CHU de Lille, F-59037 Lille, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4663-6800","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Philippe","family":"Marchetti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UMR 9020\u2013UMR-S 1277\u2013Canther\u2013Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, Institut de Recherche contre le Cancer de Lille, University Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France"},{"name":"Banque de Tissus, Centre de Biologie-Pathologie, CHU Lille, F-59000 Lille, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nicolas","family":"Blanchemain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"U1008 Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and Biomaterials, Institut National de la Sant\u00e9 et de la Recherche M\u00e9dicale (INSERM), Centre Hospitalier R\u00e9gional Universitaire de Lille (CHU Lille), University of Lille, F-59000 Lille, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2573","DOI":"10.1007\/s00170-016-8968-7","article-title":"An Economic Analysis Comparing the Cost Feasibility of Replacing Injection Molding Processes with Emerging Additive Manufacturing Techniques","volume":"88","author":"Franchetti","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1700292","DOI":"10.1002\/mabi.201700292","article-title":"Development of a Polymer-Based Biodegradable Neurovascular Stent Prototype: A Preliminary In Vitro and In Vivo Study","volume":"18","author":"Nikoubashman","year":"2018","journal-title":"Macromol. Biosci."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liao, L., Peng, C., Li, S., Lu, Z., and Fan, Z. (2017). Evaluation of Bioresorbable Polymers as Potential Stent Material\u2014In Vivo Degradation Behavior and Histocompatibility. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 134.","DOI":"10.1002\/app.44355"},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"1256537","article-title":"Effect of Injection Molding Melt Temperatures on PLGA Craniofacial Plate Properties during In Vitro Degradation","volume":"2017","author":"Salmoria","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158","DOI":"10.1053\/j.otsm.2004.07.015","article-title":"Bioabsorbable Implant Material Review","volume":"12","author":"Maurus","year":"2004","journal-title":"Oper. Tech. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1016\/j.knee.2008.06.001","article-title":"A Clinical Review of Bioabsorbable Interference Screws and Their Adverse Effects in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery","volume":"16","author":"Konan","year":"2009","journal-title":"Knee"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1016\/j.addr.2016.03.012","article-title":"Biocompatibility and Safety of PLA and Its Copolymers","volume":"107","author":"Ramot","year":"2016","journal-title":"Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mohseni, M., Hutmacher, D.W., and Castro, N.J. (2018). Independent Evaluation of Medical-Grade Bioresorbable Filaments for Fused Deposition Modelling\/Fused Filament Fabrication of Tissue Engineered Constructs. Polymers, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym10010040"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Li, B., and Webster, T. (2018). Bioresorbable Materials for Orthopedic Applications (Lactide and Glycolide Based). Orthopedic Biomaterials: Progress in Biology, Manufacturing, and Industry Perspectives, Springer International Publishing."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.22203\/eCM.v005a01","article-title":"Biodegradable Synthetic Polymers for Tissue Engineering","volume":"5","author":"Gunatillake","year":"2003","journal-title":"Eur. Cell Mater."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3809","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2004.10.014","article-title":"Influence of Electron-Beam Radiation on the Hydrolytic Degradation Behaviour of Poly(Lactide-Co-Glycolide) (PLGA)","volume":"26","year":"2005","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"976","DOI":"10.1021\/acsmacrolett.8b00424","article-title":"Hydrolytic Degradation and Erosion of Polyester Biomaterials","volume":"7","author":"Woodard","year":"2018","journal-title":"ACS Macro Lett."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"214","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymertesting.2018.10.007","article-title":"Medical Grade Polylactide, Copolyesters and Polydioxanone: Rheological Properties and Melt Stability","volume":"72","author":"Ahlinder","year":"2018","journal-title":"Polym. Test."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48550","DOI":"10.1002\/app.48550","article-title":"Nondegradative Additive Manufacturing of Medical Grade Copolyesters of High Molecular Weight and with Varied Elastic Response","volume":"137","author":"Ahlinder","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"388","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.biomac.9b01112","article-title":"Printability and Critical Insight into Polymer Properties during Direct- Extrusion Based 3D Printing of Medical Grade Polylactide and Copolyesters","volume":"21","author":"Jain","year":"2019","journal-title":"Biomacromolecules"},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"(2019, July 30). Sterilization of Implantable Polymer-Based Medical Devices: A Review. Available online: https:\/\/www-sciencedirect-com.ressources-electroniques.univ-lille.fr\/science\/article\/pii\/S0378517317311304?via%3Dihub."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"(2019, July 30). Sterilization Techniques for Biodegradable Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering Applications, Available online: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4874054\/."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1016\/S0142-9612(00)00136-8","article-title":"Optimizing the Sterilization of PLGA Scaffolds for Use in Tissue Engineering","volume":"22","author":"Holy","year":"2000","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21319","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.9b02889","article-title":"Effect of Ethylene Oxide and Gamma (\u03b3-) Sterilization on the Properties of a PLCL Polymer Material in Balloon Implants","volume":"4","author":"Kumar","year":"2019","journal-title":"ACS Omega"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1097\/SCS.0b013e3181c50e9c","article-title":"Effects of Ethylene Oxide Sterilization on 82: 18 PLLA\/PGA Copolymer Craniofacial Fixation Plates","volume":"21","author":"Pietrzak","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Craniofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"532","DOI":"10.1002\/jbm.b.32853","article-title":"Ethylene Oxide\u2019s Role as a Reactive Agent during Sterilization: Effects of Polymer Composition and Device Architecture","volume":"101B","author":"Phillip","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Part B Appl. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"(2020, February 18). Ethylene Oxide Sterilization of Medical Devices: A Review. Available online: https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0196655307000521."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"(2020, February 18). Ethylene Oxide Potential Toxicity: Expert Review of Medical Devices: Vol 5, No 3. Available online: https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1586\/17434440.5.3.323."},{"key":"ref_24","first-page":"548","article-title":"Residual Ethylene Oxide in Medical Devices and Device Material","volume":"66","author":"Lucas","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Part B Appl. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"(2020, February 18). Kinetics of the Aeration of Ethylene-Oxide Sterilized Plastics. Available online: https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/0142961280900381."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2020, February 18). Aeration of Ethylene Oxide-Sterilized Polymers. Available online: https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/0142961286901080."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"FDA (2020, February 18). Ethylene Oxide Sterilization for Medical Devices, Available online: https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/medical-devices\/general-hospital-devices-and-supplies\/ethylene-oxide-sterilization-medical-devices."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.1016\/S0141-3910(03)00271-4","article-title":"Radiation Effects on Poly (Lactide-Co-Glycolide) (PLGA) and Poly(l-Lactide) (PLLA)","volume":"83","author":"Loo","year":"2004","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stab."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1016\/j.radphyschem.2017.09.009","article-title":"Low Temperature Gamma Sterilization of a Bioresorbable Polymer, PLGA","volume":"143","author":"Davison","year":"2018","journal-title":"Radiat. Phys. Chem."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1016\/S0168-3659(03)00153-6","article-title":"Poly (Lactide-Co-Glycolide) Microspheres Containing Bupivacaine: Comparison between Gamma and Beta Irradiation Effects","volume":"90","author":"Montanari","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Control. Release"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cingolani, A., Casalini, T., Caimi, S., Klaue, A., Sponchioni, M., Rossi, F., and Perale, G. (2018). A Methodologic Approach for the Selection of Bio-Resorbable Polymers in the Development of Medical Devices: The Case of Poly(l-Lactide-Co-\u03b5-Caprolactone). Polymers, 10.","DOI":"10.20944\/preprints201807.0022.v1"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1452","DOI":"10.1002\/1097-4628(20000815)77:7<1452::AID-APP7>3.0.CO;2-S","article-title":"Properties and Morphology of Poly(L-lactide). III. Effects of Initial Crystallinity on Long-term in Vitro Hydrolysis of High Molecular Weight Poly(L-lactide) Film in Phosphate-buffered Solution","volume":"77","author":"Tsuji","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1945","DOI":"10.1016\/S0142-9612(98)00099-4","article-title":"Manufacture of Porous Biodegradable Polymer Conduits by an Extrusion Process for Guided Tissue Regeneration","volume":"19","author":"Widmer","year":"1998","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1069","DOI":"10.1163\/092050609X12457428919034","article-title":"Effect of Thermal Degradation of SFF-Based PLGA Scaffolds Fabricated Using a Multi-Head Deposition System Followed by Change of Cell Growth Rate","volume":"21","author":"Shim","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Biomater. Sci. Polym. Ed."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"014107","DOI":"10.1088\/1758-5082\/2\/1\/014107","article-title":"Machine Design and Processing Considerations for the 3D Plotting of Thermoplastic Scaffolds","volume":"2","author":"Ragaert","year":"2010","journal-title":"Biofabrication"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1217","DOI":"10.1016\/j.progpolymsci.2010.04.002","article-title":"The Return of a Forgotten Polymer\u2014Polycaprolactone in the 21st Century","volume":"35","author":"Woodruff","year":"2010","journal-title":"Prog. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1038","DOI":"10.1002\/pat.4838","article-title":"The Effect of 3D Printing on the Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Polycaprolactone Filament and Scaffold","volume":"31","author":"Soufivand","year":"2020","journal-title":"Polym. Adv. Technol."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.1080\/07853890701881788","article-title":"A Review of Rapid Prototyping Techniques for Tissue Engineering Purposes","volume":"40","author":"Peltola","year":"2008","journal-title":"Ann. Med."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"271","DOI":"10.1016\/S0939-6411(03)00104-8","article-title":"Mathematical Modeling of Drug Release from Bioerodible Microparticles: Effect of Gamma-Irradiation","volume":"56","author":"Faisant","year":"2003","journal-title":"Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm."}],"container-title":["Polymers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/13\/4\/572\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T05:24:06Z","timestamp":1760160246000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/13\/4\/572"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,14]]},"references-count":39,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,2]]}},"alternative-id":["polym13040572"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/polym13040572","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4360"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4360","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,14]]}}}