Let $C$ be a connected simplicial 2-complex, and $f: C \to \mathbb{S}^3$ an embedding in the 3-sphere. Assume that each of the link graphs of $C$ is connected, and that $f$ nice, e.g. locally flat or piecewise linear.


Is it true that there is a *simply connected* 2-complex $C'$, containing $C$ as a topological subspace, and an embedding $f': C' \to \mathbb{S}^3$ that coincides with $f$ when restricted to $C \subseteq C'$?


(If we relax the condition that $f'$ extends $f$, then the statement is proved by Carmesin in Theorem 7.1 of <https://arxiv.org/pdf/1709.04643>. Carmesin obtains an $f’$ with a rotation system that coincides with that of $f$ when appropriately restricted, but this is weaker than what I am asking for.)



Extending a 2-complex embedded in $\mathbb{S}^3$ into a simply connected one
Yes. [The tameness of $f$ makes our life *much* easier.]


It will be convenient for the proof to assume that $C$ is *pure*: that is, every vertex and edge of $C$ lies in some triangle of $C$. If this is not the case, then glue triangles on until it is the case.


Take $D = f(C)$; since $f$ is piecewise linear $D$ is tame and we can work with $D$ instead of $C$. Let $N$ be a very small regular neighbourhood of $D$. Note that $D$ is a *spine* for $N$ in the sense that $N - D \cong S \times (0, 1]$ (PL homeo). Let $\tau\_D : N \to D$ be the resulting deformation retraction. (In fact, we can here get away with using nearest point projection.) So $N \subset S^3$ is a PL sub-three-manifold and $S = \partial N$ is a separating surface. Note that $S$ is need not be connected and may have two-sphere components.


Define $M$ to be the closure of $S^3 - N$. Note that $S = \partial M$.


Let $E$ be a special spine for $M$. Again, we will assume that $E$ is pure. (Note that this means that we will have use Bing's house with two rooms, or similar, as special spines for three-ball components of $M$.) Thus $M - E \cong S \times (0, 1]$. Again let $\tau\_E : M \to E$ be the resulting deformation retraction. We can no longer use closest point projection, but we still arrange that $\tau\_E$ is PL.


Let $\Gamma$ be a spine for the surface $S$; that is, $S - \Gamma$ is a collection of disks. Again we assume that $\Gamma$ is pure - so while $\Gamma$ may have vertices of degree one, it does not have isolated vertices. Also, we isotope $\Gamma$ slightly so that it is transverse to $(\tau\_D|S)^{-1}(D^{(1)})$ and also to $(\tau\_E|S)^{-1}(E^{(1)})$.


We build a two-complex from $$D \,\, \sqcup \,\, \Gamma \times [-1, 1] \,\, \sqcup \,\, E$$ by attaching $\Gamma \times \{-1\}$ to $D$ via $\tau\_D$ and attaching $\Gamma \times \{1\}$ to $E$ via $\tau\_E$. This is the desired complex $C'$; the map $f'$ is inclusion. Note that $S^3 - C'$ is a collection of (open) three-balls. That is, $C'$ is a spine for $S^3$. Thus $C'$ is simply connected.


