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Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP and the NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute have developed a 3D-printed tissue substitute that mimics the mechanical behavior of natural tissue, with both institutions jointly filing a patent for the material. The development, completed under the German federal government’s PolyKARD project, is now ready for medical technology applications.
The material’s three-layer structure is what sets it apart. A dense polymer film made of polyurethane acrylate forms the base. On top of that, a wavy metastructure is applied via 3D printing, which controls the mechanical behavior. Electrospun collagen, produced using a process developed at the NMI, is then added to support biological function. The quality of the collagen f