Polycaprolactone- and polycaprolactone/ceramic-based 3D-bioplotted porous scaffolds for bone regeneration: A...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Mimicking natural tissue structure and properties is crucial for organ and tissue regeneration.
• Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies enable the fabrication of 3D scaffolds with controlled characteristics like porosity and mechanical strength.
• 3D bioplotting offers precise control over scaffold architecture for tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize 3D scaffolds using 3D bioplotting for bone tissue regeneration.
• To evaluate the osteoconductive potential of polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL/ceramic composite scaffolds.
• To assess the influence of ceramic content on scaffold properties and cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of 3D scaffolds using 3D bioplotting with pure PCL and PCL/Nukbone® (NKB) or hydroxyapatite (HA) composites.
• Optimization of bioplotting parameters (temperature, speed, pressure) to achieve desired pore size (200-400μm) and porosity (~32%).
• Characterization using ATR-FTIR, mechanical testing (Young's modulus), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with osteoblast cell culture.

Main Results:

• PCL/NKB scaffolds, especially 10% NKB, showed the highest osteoblast proliferation and an evident osteoconductive effect.
• SEM confirmed good osteoblast anchorage to composite scaffolds, unlike pure PCL scaffolds.
• Bioplotted scaffolds exhibited a Young's modulus (0.121-0.171 GPa) compatible with natural bone.

Conclusions:

• 3D bioplotted PCL/NKB scaffolds are promising platforms for bone tissue formation and regeneration.
• The composite scaffolds enhance osteoblast adhesion and proliferation compared to pure PCL.
• These findings support the use of PCL/NKB scaffolds in tissue engineering for improved bone regeneration.