Facilitating cell ingrowth and biomineralized deposition
inside
filaments of 3DP scaffolds are an ideal bone repair strategy. Here,
3D printed PLGA/HA scaffolds with hydroxyapatite content of 50% (P5H5)
and 70% (P3H7) were prepared by optimizing 3D printing inks, which
exhibited good tailorability and foldability to meet clinical maneuverability.
The supercritical CO2 foaming technology further endowed
the filaments of P5H5 with a richer interconnected pore structure
(P5H5-C). The finite element and computational fluid dynamics simulation
analysis indicated that the porosification could effectively reduce
the stress concentration at the filament junction and improved the
overall permeability of the scaffold. The results of in vitro experiments
confirmed that P5H5-C promoted the adsorption of proteins on the surface
and inside of filaments, accelerated the release of Ca and P ions,
and significantly upregulated osteogenesis (Col I, ALP, and OPN)- and angiogenesis (VEGF)-related gene expression. Subcutaneous ectopic osteogenesis
experiments in nude mice further verified that P5H5-C facilitated
cell growth inside filaments and biomineralized deposition, as well
as significantly upregulated the expression of osteogenesis- and angiogenesis-related
genes (Col I, ALP, OCN, and VEGF) and protein secretion (ALP, RUNX2, and
VEGF). The porosification of filaments by supercritical CO2 foaming provided a new strategy for accelerating osteogenesis of
3DP implants.