Supplement to Support the Acquisition of a High-Precision 3D Printer

Administrative Supplement Request for Equipment Purchase Project Number: R01NS134604 Project Title: Ionically Conductive Polymeric Biomaterials and Grafts for Nerve Regeneration Requested Equipment: High-Precision 3D Printer This request is for an administrative supplement to purchase a high-precision 3D printer essential for advancing the aims of project 1R01NS134604. The parent grant hypothesizes that our ionically conductive (IC) chitosan scaffold platform, combined with electrical and chemical stimulation, can repair large-gap peripheral nerve injuries (PNI). Recent and unanticipated findings from our ongoing studies have demonstrated the unexpected efficacy of our IC scaffolds in long-gap nerve repair. In a key discovery, our IC scaffolds successfully repaired critical-size nerve defects of up to 4 cm. Remarkably, when arranged in a looped configuration, the 4 cm scaffolds produced even larger compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes than the 2 cm scaffolds, indicating successful long-gap innervation. These promising results present an exciting opportunity to explore the design optimization of these scaffolds and electrodes for large-gap nerve regeneration. To capitalize on these compelling findings, the acquisition of a high-precision 3D printer has become essential. This equipment is vital to overcoming the limitations of our current freeze- drying fabrication methods. The printer will provide precise control over scaffold pore size and architecture, enhance the delivery of electrical and pharmacological stimuli, and improve scalability—capabilities that are now required to build upon our unexpected results. Without this technology, our ability to advance the scaffold design and its translational potential will be significantly constrained. We are requesting $100,000 in supplemental funds for the 3D printer. Demonstrating a firm commitment to this research direction, our institution’s Department Chair and Vice Chancellor for Research have agreed to provide gap funding to support this acquisition.