High‐Resolution and Ultra‐Stable 3D Printing of Poly(Glycolide‐co‐Caprolactone) for Developing Biodegradable Medical Devices

ABSTRACT High‐precision three‐dimensional poly(caprolactone) (PCL) fibrous scaffolds produced by melt electrowriting (MEW) have gained significant attention in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, the selection of biobased polymers suitable for MEW remains limited, particularly for tuning mechanical properties and degradation rates. This study explores poly(glycolide‐co‐caprolactone) (PGCL) for its rapid degradation while maintaining favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The printability, mechanical characteristics, cytotoxicity, and hydrolytic degradation of PGCL are examined. Successfully fabricated PGCL scaffolds include planar scaffolds with a fiber spacing of 100 µm and a fiber diameter of 6.4 µm, scaffolds with complex patterns, and tubular scaffolds featuring a winding angle of 60° and an inner diameter of 2 mm. Printability is assessed through jet lag angle, Taylor cone area, and fiber diameter during long‐term printing. Mechanical testing reveals a high elongation at break of 1526% for the tubular scaffolds, which preserve morphology after 10 compression cycles at 50% strain. Biological evaluations demonstrate that PGCL scaffolds effectively promote fibroblast adhesion, growth, and proliferation. A 1‐year hydrolytic degradation study proves the fast degradation behavior of PGCL scaffolds. Furthermore, PGCL scaffolds effectively reinforce planar and tubular hydrogels, highlighting their potential as medical devices such as cardiac patches and artificial vascular grafts.