Comparative evaluation of melt- vs. solution-printed poly(ε-caprolactone)/hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone tissue...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Material extrusion 3D printing is key for bone tissue engineering (BTE) scaffolds.
• Two main methods exist: solution-based and melt-based printing.
• Printing method influences scaffold properties and stem cell response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare solution-based and melt-based 3D printing of polycaprolactone (PCL)/hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds.
• To evaluate the impact of printing method on scaffold characteristics.
• To assess *in vitro* performance with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs).

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PCL/HA scaffolds using solution-based and melt-based extrusion 3D printing.
• Characterization of scaffold dimensions, porosity, surface roughness, stiffness, and crystallinity.
• Assessment of hMSC viability, proliferation, morphology, and differentiation *in vitro*.

Main Results:

• Both methods yielded scaffolds with similar dimensions.
• Solution-based printing created porous struts, higher surface roughness, lower stiffness, and increased crystallinity.
• Melt-based printing promoted better stem cell morphology and significantly enhanced bone formation in composite scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• The 3D printing approach critically determines scaffold properties and biological performance in BTE.
• Melt-based printing of PCL/HA composites shows superior potential for enhancing bone formation.
• Findings guide optimized scaffold design for BTE applications.