Direct inkjet writing type 1 bovine collagen/β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds for bone regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery

Background:

• Complex bone defects often require surgical intervention and grafting materials for effective regeneration.
• Bone tissue engineering (BTE) utilizes biomaterials to create scaffolds that support cell migration and tissue formation for improved bone reconstruction.
• 3D-printed patient-specific scaffolds offer a promising approach to address critical-sized bone defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize 3D printed scaffolds made of type I collagen augmented with beta-tricalcium phosphate (COL/β-TCP).
• To evaluate the potential of these novel scaffolds for bone regeneration applications in vitro.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of β-TCP, COL, and COL/β-TCP scaffolds using a direct inkjet write (DIW) 3D printer and colloidal gels.
• Chemical crosslinking and lyophilization of the fabricated scaffolds.
• Characterization using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
• In vitro evaluation of scaffold cytotoxicity and cell proliferation using human osteoprogenitor cells.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of 3D printed COL/β-TCP scaffolds confirmed by material characterization techniques.
• Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the presence of calcium and phosphorus, indicating β-TCP within the composite scaffolds.
• In vitro studies demonstrated significantly higher cell viability and proliferation on COL/β-TCP scaffolds compared to pure COL or β-TCP scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D printed COL/β-TCP scaffolds show excellent biocompatibility and promote osteoprogenitor cell growth.
• These novel composite scaffolds hold significant promise for advancing bone tissue engineering applications.
• COL/β-TCP scaffolds may provide a superior microenvironment for bone regeneration compared to conventional materials.