Selective laser sintering of aliphatic-polycarbonate/hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds for medical applications

Abstract

This study investigated the selective laser sintering (SLS) of aliphatic-polycarbonate/hydroxyapatite (a-PC/HA) composite scaffolds for medical applications. The effects of material ratios and SLS processing parameters on the porosity, microstructures and mechanical properties of the samples were observed. The optimized proportion in the a-PC/HA composite was found to be 10 wt% HA. The processing parameters were optimized as: 10 W of laser power, 2000 mm/s of scan speed, 0.15 mm of scan spacing, and 0.17 mm of layer thickness. With the optimized process, the scaffold porosity and compressive module were increased to 77.36 % and 26 MPa, respectively. The pores were interconnected, indicating the existence of more space for cell ingrowth and the improvement in the load capability of bone scaffold. The nanoscale HA particles were fully or partially embedded in a-PC matrix and did not decompose during the SLS processing. Crystalline behavior, bioactive activity, and osteoconduction, beneficial for bone ingrowth, scarcely changed before and after sintering. The successful manufacturing of complex scaffold with smooth surface demonstrated that surface roughness could be controlled by optimizing HA content and adjusting the processing parameters. The a-PC/HA composite powder could be used to manufacture complex porous parts by using the SLS process for medical applications.

Fused Deposition Modeling of Poly (Lactic Acid)/Walnut Shell Biocomposite Filaments—Surface Treatment and Properties

“…Subsequently, five types of biocomposite powders, PLA/5 wt.% untreated WSP and PLA with 5 wt.% WSP that was treated with NaOH/2, 4, 6, 8 wt.% KH550 (abbreviated as PLA-untreated WSP, PLA-Na treated WSP, PLA-*%NaSi treated WSP) were dry-milled for 24 h using a mechanical planet ball grinder machine (QM-3SP4, Nanjing Yifan Apparatus Co. Ltd., Nanjing, China). Two kinds of Zirconium balls with an average diameter of 5 mm and 20 mm, respectively, were added to improve the grinding efficiency and homogeneity of the mixture [35]. The weight ratio of ball and material was 1:1.…”

Fused Deposition Modeling of Poly (lactic acid)/Macadamia Composites—Thermal, Mechanical Properties and Scaffolds

“…The crystallinity index ( ) was obtained with the empirical Segal equation [25]: The MS powder, including the untreated and treated ones, with as-received PLA powders were blended for 24 h by using a planetary ball mill (QM-3SP4, Nanjing Yifan Apparatus Co. Ltd., Nanjing, China). Zirconium balls of 5 mm and 10 mm diameter were added for improving the grinding homogeneity of mixture, the weight ratio between ball and material was 1:1 [23]. After being blended, the formulations of the PLA-MS composites are listed in Table 1.…”

Nanocomposites of Polymeric Biomaterials Containing Carbonate Groups: An Overview

“…By using a solvent‐exchange and solution casting approach, a high‐content of GO was incorporated into a soft biodegradable CO 2 ‐based PPC up to 20 wt% with excellent dispersion . PC‐PU/nHA NCs were prepared by both ex situ and in situ techniques in which the dispersion of the nHA in PC‐PU matrices was better for the in situ prepared NCs . The uniform dispersion of nHA crystals in PPC matrix was obtained via direct use of nHA and PPC solution by the co‐solution method .…”

“…Copyright 2012, Trans Tech Publications; Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2005, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.; Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2015, Springer; Reproduced with permission .…”

“…APCs/nHA NCs were produced as scaffolds with smooth surface for artificial bone applications. The results showed that the surface roughness could be affected by optimizing the amount of NPs and adjusting the processing factors …”