Manufacture of biomaterials by a novel printing process

Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds with controlled internal porosity were fabricated with a suspension of TCP in diacrylate cross-linking monomers using a mold prepared by ink-jet printing. Scaffolds were removed by selective dissolution of the mold. They were heat treated for removal of the acrylic binder followed by sintering. Despite a considerable linear shrinkage, scaffold porosity was retained after sintering. Composite scaffolds were fabricated from TCP in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate using an identical gel casting route.