4D printed hydrogel scaffold with swelling-stiffening properties and programmable deformation for minimally invasive implantation

The power of three-dimensional printing in designing personalized scaffolds with precise dimensions and properties is well-known. However, minimally invasive implantation of complex scaffolds is still challenging. Here, we develop amphiphilic dynamic thermoset polyurethanes catering for multi-material four-dimensional printing to fabricate supportive scaffolds with body temperature-triggered shape memory and water-triggered programmable deformation. Shape memory effect enables the two-dimensional printed pattern to be fixed into temporary one-dimensional shape, facilitating transcatheter delivery. Upon implantation, the body temperature triggers shape recovery of the one-dimensional shape to its original two-dimensional pattern. After swelling, the hydrated pattern undergoes programmable morphing into the desired three-dimensional structure because of swelling mismatch. The structure exhibits unusual soft-to-stiff transition due to the water-driven microphase separation formed between hydrophilic and hydrophobic chain segments. The integration of shape memory, programmable deformability, and swelling-stiffening properties makes the developed dynamic thermoset polyurethanes promising supportive void-filling scaffold materials for minimally invasive implantation. 3D printing has potential in designing personalised scaffolds, but minimally invasive implantation is still challenging. Here, the authors report the development of a polyurethane material with temperature triggered shape memory and water triggered deformation that allows for transcatheter delivery.