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Volume 18
Issue 15
10.3390/ma18153638
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Development and Simulation-Based Validation of Biodegradable 3D-Printed Cog Threads for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair

by
Ana Telma Silva
1,
Nuno Miguel Ferreira
1,2,
Henrique Leon Bastos
2,
Maria Francisca Vaz
1,
Joana Pinheiro Martins
1,
Fábio Pinheiro
1,3,
António Augusto Fernandes
1,2 and
Elisabete Silva
1,*
1
LAETA, INEGI, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
2
Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
3
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, R. de Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Materials 2025, 18(15), 3638; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153638 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 5 July 2025 / Revised: 24 July 2025 / Accepted: 30 July 2025 / Published: 1 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in Polymer-Based 3D Bioprinting for Biomedical Applications)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent condition, affecting women all over the world, and is commonly treated through surgical interventions that present limitations such as recurrence or complications associated with synthetic meshes. In this study, biodegradable poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) cog threads are proposed as a minimally invasive alternative for vaginal wall reinforcement. A custom cutting tool was developed to fabricate threads with varying barb angles (90°, 75°, 60°, and 45°), which were produced via Melt Electrowriting. Their mechanical behavior was assessed through uniaxial tensile tests and validated using finite element simulations. The results showed that barb orientation had minimal influence on tensile performance. In simulations of anterior vaginal wall deformation under cough pressure, all cog thread configurations significantly reduced displacement in the damaged tissue model, achieving values comparable to or even lower than those of healthy tissue. A ball burst simulation using an anatomically accurate model further demonstrated a 13% increase in reaction force with cog thread reinforcement. Despite fabrication limitations, this study supports the biomechanical potential of 3D-printed PCL cog threads for POP treatment, and lays the groundwork for future in vivo validation.
Keywords: pelvic organ prolapse (POP); biodegradable cog threads; finite element analysis (FEA); vaginal wall reinforcement pelvic organ prolapse (POP); biodegradable cog threads; finite element analysis (FEA); vaginal wall reinforcement

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Silva, A.T.; Ferreira, N.M.; Bastos, H.L.; Vaz, M.F.; Martins, J.P.; Pinheiro, F.; Fernandes, A.A.; Silva, E. Development and Simulation-Based Validation of Biodegradable 3D-Printed Cog Threads for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair. Materials 2025, 18, 3638. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153638

AMA Style

Silva AT, Ferreira NM, Bastos HL, Vaz MF, Martins JP, Pinheiro F, Fernandes AA, Silva E. Development and Simulation-Based Validation of Biodegradable 3D-Printed Cog Threads for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair. Materials. 2025; 18(15):3638. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153638

Chicago/Turabian Style

Silva, Ana Telma, Nuno Miguel Ferreira, Henrique Leon Bastos, Maria Francisca Vaz, Joana Pinheiro Martins, Fábio Pinheiro, António Augusto Fernandes, and Elisabete Silva. 2025. "Development and Simulation-Based Validation of Biodegradable 3D-Printed Cog Threads for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair" Materials 18, no. 15: 3638. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153638

APA Style

Silva, A. T., Ferreira, N. M., Bastos, H. L., Vaz, M. F., Martins, J. P., Pinheiro, F., Fernandes, A. A., & Silva, E. (2025). Development and Simulation-Based Validation of Biodegradable 3D-Printed Cog Threads for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair. Materials, 18(15), 3638. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153638

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