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Updated: Jun 23, 2025
Fabrication of a Bioactive, PCL-based "Self-fitting" Shape Memory Polymer Scaffold
Published on: October 23, 2015
Design and development of 3D printed shape memory triphasic polymer-ceramic bioactive scaffolds for bone tissue
Mohammad Aftab Alam Ansari1,2,3, Pooja Makwana4, Bindiya Dhimmar4
1Biomaterials and Biomanufacturing Laboratory (Formerly Biomedical Engineering and Technology Lab), Mechanical engineering discipline, PDPM Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design & Manufacturing Jabalpur, Jabalpur, India. himansu@iiitdmj.ac.in.
This study developed strong, shape-memory 3D-printed bone scaffolds using wollastonite particles (WP) in a poly lactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix. These scaffolds show promise for load-bearing bone defect repair due to enhanced mechanical strength and biocompatibility.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Bone tissue engineering scaffolds require significant mechanical strength for effective bone defect repair.
- Existing scaffolds often lack the necessary mechanical competence and osteoconductive properties for load-bearing applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and develop mechanically robust, shape-memory triphasic bone scaffolds using fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing.
- To investigate the effects of incorporating wollastonite particles (WP) and polycaprolactone (PCL) on scaffold properties for bone regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Composite scaffolds were fabricated using 3D printing with a poly lactic acid (PLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix reinforced with varying concentrations of wollastonite particles (WP).
- Characterization included morphological, thermal, mechanical, *in vitro* degradation, biocompatibility, and shape memory behavior assessments.
- Osteogenic potential was evaluated using MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells.
Main Results:
- The composite scaffolds exhibited interconnected pores (550 μm), >50% porosity, and significantly improved compressive strength (∼50 MPa, >90% increase) and flexural strength (140% increase with 40 wt% WP).
- WP incorporation enhanced hydrophilicity (water contact angle of 49.61° at 40 wt% WP) and accelerated *in vitro* degradation, while PCL reduced thermal stability.
- The scaffolds demonstrated excellent shape recovery (∼84% ratio), good biocompatibility with viable cell proliferation, and induced early mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells.
Conclusions:
- 3D-printed wollastonite-reinforced PLA/PCL composite scaffolds possess superior mechanical properties and shape memory effects suitable for bone tissue engineering.
- These bioactive scaffolds exhibit good biocompatibility and osteogenic potential, making them promising candidates for load-bearing bone defect repair.
- The developed triphasic scaffolds offer a viable solution for advancing regenerative medicine in orthopedic applications.
