Characterisation of polycaprolactone scaffolds made by melt electrospinning writing for pelvic organ prolapse correction - a pilot study

Additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies enable personalised treatments using custom-made prosthetics, implants other medical devices. This research aimed to characterise novel biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) for pelvic organ prolapse repair, produced melt electrospinning technology. PCL mesh filaments were printed in 5 configurations: 240 µm, 160 three layers of 80 two µm one layer µm. Material sterilisation, degradation, mechanical behaviour, geometric variation due applied loads studied. Polypropylene (PP) Restorelle was used as a reference this study vaginal tissue baseline. Sterilisation by UV irradiation+ EtOH 70% did not affect the specimens. A significant weight loss observed deposited fibers at 90 - 180 days losing 10% neutral solution 27% acidic. All had functional day degradation acidic (pH 4.2) (p < 0.05). meshes classified ultra-lightweight, except lightweight filament mesh. closely match biomechanical properties tissues, particularly comfort zone, unlike implant. The pores appeared be stable compared those that been clinically until FDA pulled its approval. Based on pilot results, improved implant designs will studied, vitro experiments cell adhesion growth response conducted.