Light activated 4D printed materials for vascular tissue engineering

The proposed project aims to develop light-responsive materials for 4D printing of vascular junction elements, enabling the repair of blood vessels and treatment of thromboembolic diseases. Leveraging the capabilities of 4D printing, which allows objects to change shape over time in response to external stimuli, the project seeks to fabricate smart, active structures using shape-changing polymers activated by light. 4D printing holds immense potential in the field of biomedical engineering. By utilizing shape memory polymers, hydrogels, and liquid crystal elastomers, 4D printing enables the creation of complex structures without the need for assembly. In this project, the focus lies on exploiting this technology to develop biocompatible materials that can serve as scaffolds for repairing damaged blood vessels. This project aims to explore biocompatible composite materials capable of sequential folding, achieved through light induced photothermal effects in nanoparticles embedded within the composite. The project\'s main objective is to synthesize and improve light-responsive materials for 4D printing, enabling sequential folding. It entails investigating the synthesis parameters of composite to enhance folding properties and exploring the actuation properties of the polymer and nanoparticles in response to different light power densities and wavelengths. The anticipated impact of this project is significant, benefiting both material science and medicine.