Multifunctional Three-Dimensional Printed Copper Loaded Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bone regeneration therapies are crucial for treating bone defects.
• Inorganic nanoparticles offer a promising avenue for enhancing bone regeneration.
• Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) scaffolds are widely investigated for bone tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) loaded CPC scaffolds for in vitro bone regeneration.
• To evaluate the impact of Cu NPs on the osteogenic, angiogenic, and antibacterial properties of CPC scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• 3D printing of CPC and Cu NP-loaded CPC scaffolds using pneumatic extrusion.
• Physicochemical characterization including surface morphology, pore size, wettability, XRD, and FTIR.
• In vitro studies using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and antibacterial assays against *Staphylococcus aureus*.

Main Results:

• CPC scaffolds loaded with 1 wt% Cu NPs exhibited significant improvement in cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and angiogenic potential compared to pure CPC scaffolds.
• Cu NP-loaded CPC scaffolds demonstrated concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against *Staphylococcus aureus*.
• Copper ion release was studied in phosphate-buffered saline at pH 7.4.

Conclusions:

• Copper nanoparticles significantly enhance the osteogenic, angiogenic, and antibacterial properties of CPC scaffolds.
• The developed CPC-Cu scaffolds show great potential for improving bone regeneration in vitro.
• 1 wt% Cu NP loading represents an optimal concentration for enhanced scaffold performance.