A comparison between β-tricalcium phosphate and chitosan poly-caprolactone-based 3D melt extruded composite scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Melt extrusion 3D printing is key for creating degradable scaffolds for medical devices.
• Poly-caprolactone (PCL) is a widely used synthetic polyester for scaffold fabrication.
• Enhancing scaffold bioactivity is crucial for tissue regeneration applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and compare 3D printed PCL composite scaffolds blended with chitosan or beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP).
• To evaluate the effect of these composite scaffolds on human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell (hBMSC) proliferation and behavior.
• To assess the potential of these scaffolds for bone regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PCL composite scaffolds using 3D melt pneumatic extrusion with varying ratios of chitosan or β-TCP.
• Material characterization using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).
• Assessment of scaffold morphology, microarchitecture, degradation, and biological properties using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and in vitro cell viability assays (MTT).

Main Results:

• The 20% chitosan blend showed the highest hBMSC proliferation, swelling, and minimal degradation after 28 days.
• The 20% β-TCP blend exhibited the second-highest hBMSC growth, moderate swelling, and the fastest degradation rate.
• Material analysis confirmed homogeneity and thermal stability, while SEM revealed good shape fidelity and interconnected porosity.

Conclusions:

• 3D melt-extruded PCL composite scaffolds offer a viable method for creating structures with enhanced bioactivity for regenerative medicine.
• Chitosan-based PCL composites demonstrated superior hBMSC proliferation and stability compared to β-TCP composites in this study.
• These findings highlight the potential of tailored PCL composite scaffolds for bone repair applications.