Biodegradable and bioactive porous scaffold structures prepared using fused deposition modeling

Abstract

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) refers to a group of additive manufacturing techniques that can be utilized in tissue engineering applications. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a 3DP method capable of using common thermoplastic polymers. However, the scope of materials applicable for FDM has not been fully recognized. The purpose of this study was to examine the creation of biodegradable porous scaffold structures using different materials in FDM and to determine the compressive properties and the fibroblast cell response of the structures. To the best of our knowledge, the printability of a poly(ε-caprolactone)/bioactive glass (PCL/BAG) composite and L-lactide/ε-caprolactone 75/25 mol % copolymer (PLC) was demonstrated for the first time. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed BAG particles at the surface of the printed PCL/BAG scaffolds. Compressive testing showed the possibility of altering the compressive stiffness of a scaffold without changing the compressive modulus. Compressive properties were significantly dependent on porosity level and structural geometry. Fibroblast proliferation was significantly higher in polylactide than in PCL or PCL/BAG composite. Optical microscope images and SEM images showed the viability of the cells, which demonstrated the biocompatibility of the structures.

3D bioprinting of stem cells and polymer/bioactive glass composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

“…Since FDM fabricated polymer scaffolds are only biocompatible, another issue would be to make the scaffolding structure bioactive by incorporating bioceramic materials. In the past, some researchers made a polymer-bioactive glass wire for use by the FDM process to fabricate polymer-bioactive glass scaffolds [34] . However, no significant improvement in bioactivity and cell growth has been reported, which could be due to inadequate ionic dissolution of the glass into the surrounding environment.…”

Bioactive Glass-Biopolymer Composites

“…Normally, this process uses thermoplastic polymers, and the combination with bioceramics can produce highly porous 3D scaffolds. Korpela et al [113] have reported the manufacture of highly porous biocomposite scaffolds based on bioactive glass S53P4/poly(e-caprolactone) via FDM process. SEM images showed that BG particles were present at the scaffold's surface.…”

Rapid prototyping technology and its application in bone tissue engineering

“…Filaments of one layer are usually deposited at a certain angle (0°, 60°, 90°, or 120°) or irregularly, through which a more stable mechanically lay-down pattern is obtained in all directions. To explore the biomechanical properties at various deposition angles, Korpela et al (2013) designed and fabricated PCL/bioactive glass composite scaffolds using five different geometries to test their compressive moduli. Kim et al (2012) also used FDM to fabricate DL-PLGA/β-TCP scaffolds at deposition angles of 0° and 90° or 0°, 90°, 45°, and −45°.…”