3D printable magnesium-based cements towards the preparation of bioceramics

Among all the materials used so far to replace and repair damaged bone tissues, magnesium silicate bioceramics are one of the most promising, thanks to their biocompatibility, osteoinductive properties and good mechanical stability.

Magnesium silicate cement pastes were prepared by hydration of MgO mixed with different SiO₂ batches at different Mg/Si molar ratios. Pastes were either moulded or 3D printed to obtain set cements that were then calcined at 1000 °C to produce biologically relevant ceramic materials. Both cements and ceramics were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, while two selected formulations were thoroughly characterized by means of injectability tests, Raman confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, gas porosimetry, X-ray microtomography and compressive tests.

The results show that bioceramic scaffolds, namely forsterite and clinoenstatite, can be effectively obtained by 3D printing MgO/SiO₂ cement pastes, paving the way towards important advances in the field of bone tissue engineering.