Fused Deposition Modeling Printed PLA/Nano β-TCP Composite Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds for Promoting Osteogenic...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Engineering

Background:

• Large bone defects necessitate advanced regenerative strategies.
• Three-dimensional (3D)-printed scaffolds offer personalized solutions for bone tissue engineering.
• Fused deposition modeling (FDM) enables fabrication of complex biomaterial structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and evaluate polylactic acid (PLA)/nano β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) composite scaffolds using FDM-3D printing for large bone defect repair.
• To assess the in vitro and in vivo bone repair capabilities of these composite scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• PLA/nano-TCP composite scaffolds were fabricated via FDM-3D printing.
• Scaffolds underwent comprehensive characterization of physical, chemical, and biological properties.
• In vitro osteogenic capacity and in vivo bone defect repair were evaluated in a rabbit femur model.

Main Results:

• FDM-printed PLA/nano-TCP scaffolds demonstrated excellent personalized porosity and shape.
• The composite scaffolds exhibited superior osteogenic ability, biocompatibility, and in vivo bone repair compared to pure PLA.
• The combination of biodegradable PLA and bioactive nano-TCP enhanced overall biological performance.

Conclusions:

• A 7:3 ratio PLA/nano-β-TCP composite scaffold produced by FDM-3D printing shows significant potential for treating large bone defects.
• These scaffolds offer a promising strategy for personalized bone defect reconstruction due to their favorable properties.
• The study highlights the efficacy of FDM-3D printing in creating advanced bone tissue engineering scaffolds.