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Updated: Jun 25, 2025
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Synthesis of Graphene-Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposites for Potential Use in Bone Tissue Engineering
Published on: July 27, 2022
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Mechanically suitable and osteoinductive 3D-printed composite scaffolds with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles having
Michał Wojasiński1, Rafał Podgórski1, Piotr Kowalczyk1
1Laboratory of Nanohydroxyapatite (LabOFn), Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Department of Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland.
Summary
Surface modification of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAp) with calcium stearate improves polymer composites for 3D printing. This enhances mechanical strength and biocompatibility for hard tissue engineering applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Materials Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Integrating hydrophilic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAp) with hydrophobic polymers is challenging for thermal processing, like 3D printing.
- This incompatibility affects the performance of nHAp-filled polymer composites in applications such as fused filament fabrication (FFF).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a surface modification method for nHAp to improve its integration with polymers for 3D printing.
- To evaluate the effect of modified nHAp morphology on the mechanical and biological properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) composites for hard tissue scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- One-step surface modification of nHAp using a calcium stearate monolayer.
- Fabrication of polycaprolactone (PCL)/nHAp composites with varying nHAp morphologies (spherical, plate, rod) using fused filament fabrication (FFF).
- Assessment of composite mechanical properties (compressive strength, modulus) and in vitro cytotoxicity and osteoactivation.
Main Results:
- Calcium stearate-modified nHAp with rod and plate morphologies significantly increased the compressive strength of PCL composites.
- Composites with spherical nHAp showed reduced mechanical properties but remained within the range for hard tissue scaffolds.
- All tested PCL/nHAp composites were non-cytotoxic and supported cell proliferation; spherical nHAp composites induced osteoactivation in mesenchymal stem cells.
Conclusions:
- Calcium stearate surface modification enables the production of robust and biocompatible polymer/nHAp composites.
- These modified composites are suitable for hard tissue engineering and personalized implants fabricated via FFF 3D printing.
