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Updated: Apr 8, 2026
Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold
Published on: October 23, 2015
Fabrication and characterization of toughness-enhanced scaffolds comprising β-TCP/POC using the freeform fabrication
Li Gao1, Cuidi Li, Fangping Chen
1The State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, People's Republic of China. Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, People's Republic of China. Engineering Research Center for Biomedical Materials of Ministry of Education, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
A novel elastomeric material, poly(1,8-octanediol-co-citrate) (POC), has demonstrated tremendous versatility because of its advantageous toughness, tunable degradation properties, and efficient drug release capability. In this study, POC was used to improve the mechanical performance of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-Ca3(PO4)2, β-TCP). (3D) β-TCP/POC composite scaffolds were fabricated by a 3D printing technique based on the freeform fabrication system with micro-droplet jetting (FFS-MDJ). The physiochemical properties, compressive modulus, drug release behavior, and cell response of β-TCP/POC composite scaffolds were systematically investigated. The results showed that β-TCP/POC scaffolds had uniform macropores of 300-400 μm, porosity of approximately 45%, biodegradability in phosphate-buffered saline, and high compressive modulus of 50-75 MPa. With the incorporation of POC into β-TCP, the toughness of the composite scaffolds was improved significantly. Moreover, β-TCP/POC scaffolds exhibited sustained drug (ibuprofen (IBU)) release capability. Additionally, β-TCP/POC scaffolds facilitated C2C12 cell attachment and proliferation. It was indicated that the 3D-printed porous β-TCP/POC scaffolds with high compressive modulus and good drug delivery performance might be a promising candidate for bone defect repair.
