Three-dimensional printing of polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite bone tissue engineering scaffolds mechanical properties and biological behavior

Abstract

Controlled pore size and desirable internal architecture of bone scaffolds play a significant role in bone regeneration efficiency. In addition to choosing appropriate materials, the manufacturing method is another significant factor in fabricating the ideal scaffold. In this study, scaffolds were designed and fabricated by the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique. Polycaprolactone (PCL) and composites films with various percentages of hydroxyapatite (HA) (up to 20%wt) were used to fabricate filaments. The influence of (HA) addition on the mechanical properties of filaments and scaffolds was investigated. in vitro biological evaluation was examined as well as the apatite formation in simulated body fluid (SBF). The addition of HA particles increased the compressive strength and Young’s modulus of filaments and consequently the scaffolds. Compared to PCL, Young’s modulus of PCL/HA20% filament and three-dimensional (3D) printed scaffold has increased by 30% and 50%, respectively. Also, Young’s modulus for all scaffolds was in the range of 30–70 MPa, which is appropriate to use in spongy bone. Besides, the MTT assay was utilized to evaluate cell viability on the scaffolds. All the samples had qualified cytocompatibility, and it would be anticipated that addition of HA particles raise the biocompatibility in vivo. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) evaluation shows that the addition of HA caused higher ALP activity in the PCL/HA scaffolds than PCL. Furthermore, calcium deposition in the PCL/HA specimens is higher than control. In conclusion, the addition of HA particles into the PCL matrix, as well as utilizing an inexpensive commercial FFF device, lead to the fabrication of scaffolds with proper mechanical and biological properties for bone tissue engineering applications.

Characterization of PLA/PCL/Green Mussel Shells Hydroxyapatite (HA) Biocomposites Prepared by Chemical Blending Methods

“…As a result of the incorporation of HA particles, the mechanical properties of the PLA/PCL/HA biocomposite were improved [ 25 ]. Furthermore, the PLA/PCL/HA biocomposite is now more rigid and can withstand a greater amount of bending force.…”

“…In addition, the incorporation of HA particles into the PLA/PCL blend resulted in an increase in the material’s elastic deformation range. As a result, it prevented the material from entering the zone of permanent deformation (plastic) [ 25 ]. The ability of a material to resist deformation under loads is called its flexural modulus.…”

“…As a result, HA and its polymer-based composites have seen widespread use in orthopedic and dental applications. In addition, these biocomposites have important applications in drug delivery, cell and porous scaffolds for tissue engineering, bone screws, prostheses, bone graft, cardiovascular implants, cell culture substrates, spinal cages, anchors, vascular grafts, sutures, skin and tendon healing, antimicrobial agents, cancer therapy, and medical tools [ 11 , 12 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Magnetic Bone Tissue Engineering: Reviewing the Effects of Magnetic Stimulation on Bone Regeneration and Angiogenesis

“…Yet, they present weak mechanical strength, which is a drawback for implants that have to withstand load-bearing conditions. Nowadays, polymers (e.g., collagen, PLA, PCL, and chitosan) are being mixed into inorganic scaffolds to strengthen them and increase the mimicry of the natural bone extracellular matrix [62]. Still, these composites are not perfect due to the lack of cell stimulation and other chemical or physical stimuli that need to be employed.…”

Effect of nonaffine displacement on the mechanical performance of degraded PCL and its graphene composites: an atomistic investigation

“…With the above understanding, it is of great interest to investigate how addition of nanomaterials could affect the mechanical performance of degraded PCL. 34 There are extensive investigations on graphene-reinforced PCL in the literature. 35 As such, graphene is chosen in this work.…”