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Towards resorbable 3D-printed scaffolds for craniofacial bone regeneration
Divakar Karanth1, Kaidong Song2, Macey L Martin3
1Department of Orthodontics, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research
|March 3, 2023
Summary
This review explores 3D-printed scaffolds for craniofacial bone regeneration, highlighting Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and collagen materials. PLLA scaffolds show bone-like properties, while collagen scaffolds require further development for structural integrity.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Craniofacial bone defects present significant challenges in reconstructive surgery.
- Developing effective scaffolds for bone regeneration is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
- 3D printing offers a promising approach for fabricating patient-specific bone regeneration scaffolds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development of 3D-printed scaffolds for craniofacial bone regeneration.
- To highlight the fabrication and testing of Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and collagen-based scaffolds.
- To assess the physical properties and biocompatibility of these novel scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of materials and techniques for 3D-printed bone scaffolds.
- Fabrication of PLLA scaffolds using fused deposition modeling.
- Bioprinting of collagen-based scaffolds.
- Evaluation of scaffold physical properties (porosity, pore size, fiber thickness, compressive modulus).
- Assessment of scaffold biocompatibility with osteoblast-like and osteoclast-like cells.
Main Results:
- Successfully 3D-printed PLLA scaffolds with optimal porosity, pore size, and fiber thickness.
- PLLA scaffolds exhibited a compressive modulus comparable to or exceeding trabecular bone.
- PLLA scaffolds generated electric potential under cyclic loading and showed slow hydrolytic degradation.
- Osteoblast-like cells required fibrinogen coating for attachment and proliferation on PLLA scaffolds.
- Collagen scaffolds supported adhesion, differentiation, and survival of osteoclast-like cells, but require improved structural stability.
Conclusions:
- 3D printing technology holds significant promise for next-generation bone regeneration scaffolds.
- 3D-printed PLLA scaffolds demonstrate encouraging bone-like properties.
- Collagen scaffolds require further research to enhance structural integrity, potentially through mineralization.
- Mineralized biological scaffolds could lead to true bone biomimetics for enhanced regeneration.
