The Evolution of Surface-Selective Laser Sintering: Modifying and Forming 3D Structures for Tissue Engineering

The use of surface-selective laser sintering is considered for creating and modifying the architecture of three-dimensional structures from biocompatible and bioresorbable polylactide materials. The approach allows to eliminate the thermal degradation of sintered materials by localizing heating processes on their surfaces. This is achieved via the selective absorption of mid-infrared laser radiation (1.9 μm) by a thin layer of water droplets deposited on the surfaces of polymer particles (polymer fibers) or the use of hygroscopic coatings that absorb the energy of laser radiation better than the polymer material.