AKiNAfil™ 3D Printer Filament

Using a custom-modified Filabot EX2 extrusion kit with extrusion under argon flush conditions, Akina, Inc. has reformatted bioresorbable polymers to standardized 1.7 mm or 2.7 mm filament available in a variety of lengths including 6-meter sections and 1-meter sections. These coils are packed with protective desiccant and are unspooled for customers to use with any spool of their choice.

 

Filament Diameter	Length	Weight
1.7 mm	1 m	~2-3 g
1.7 mm	6 m	~15-18 g
2.7 mm	1 m	~6-10 g

 

For PLGA, the Extrusion/Processing temperature typically ranges from 110 – 140°C. The materials listed below contain an FDA generally regarded as safe (GRAS) plasticizer (acetyltriethylcitrate, ATEC) to improve processability at the concentrations listed. These polymers have been extruded to 1.7 mm diameter for use in most conventional 3D printers. Note that stepper settings and other print parameters will need modified according to your printer and print conditions.

 

Check back as we are continuously expanding this product category to include new products. Have a specific request for a PolySciTech polymer to be in 3D printer format? Contact John Garner.

Ordering information

Catalog Number	Description	Price	Buy
AF001	AKiNAfil 3D Printer 1.7 mm Filament - made using AP017 Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (LG 60:40, acid endcap)	$250.00 /6m Stock Check/COA
AF002	AKiNAfil 3D Printer 1.7 mm Filament - made using AP017 Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (LG 60:40, acid endcap)	$75.00 /1m Stock Check/COA
AF003	AKiNAfil 3D Printer 1.7 mm Filament - made using AP052 Poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (LG 85:15, acid endcap)	$250.00 /6m Stock Check/COA
AF004	AKiNAfil 3D Printer 1.7 mm Filament - made using AP052 Poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (LG 85:15, acid endcap)	$75.00 /1m Stock Check/COA
AF005	AKiNAfil 3D Printer 2.7 mm Filament - made using AP089 Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) acid endcap (50:50 LA:GA, Mn: 75,000-85,000 Da)	$175.00 /1m Stock Check/COA

• Price does not include shipping/handling and applicable sales tax
• This product is for research use only and it is not intended for use in humans or for in vitro diagnostic use.
• Terms and Conditions Apply
• Utilize discount code AKINAFIL10 at check out to receive a 10% discount on AKiNAfil products.

Technical information

Conventional 3D printing filament either consists of non-degradable polymers such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or slowly degradable polymers such as high molecular weight polylactide (PLA) or Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). The PLA conventionally used in 3D printers has a degradation time of several decades which may be useful for environmental composting considerations but is not useful for biomedical applications which need resorption times in weeks to months.

 

Degradation times in the weeks to months stage can be accomplished using PLGA as well as PLA and PLCL with controlled molecular weights. This has been experimentally measured for several products at PolySciTech: Akina indicating a range of degradation times from < 1 month (PLGA-50L-5kDa (AP081), that is a PLGA with 50% lactide, and lower Mn specification of 5 kDa) to 9-12 months (P(DL)LA-15kDa (AP086).

 

Polymer	Resorption time (>70% mass loss in biological conditions)
PLGA-50L-5kDa (AP081)	< 1 month
PLGA-50L-75kDa (AP089)	2-3 months
PLGA-75L-15kDa (AP091)	3-5 months
PLGA-95L-10kDa (AP120)	5-6 months
PLGA-75L-100kDa (AP136)	6 months
PLCL-70L-15kDa (AP178)	6-9 months
P(DL)La-15kDa (AP086)	9 - 12 months

 

Biodegradation by mass-loss in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4, 37°C) of indicated polymer.
See full details on polymer degradation whitepaper.