Polylactic acid/Ormocarpum cochinchinense bio-composites for sustainable 3D-printed biomedical devices

This study reports the development of a bioactive bio-composite composed of Polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with Ormocarpum cochinchinense (OC) powder designed for advanced biomedical applications. Composite filaments were fabricated via melt extrusion and processed using fused deposition modelling 3D printing, resulting in improved printability, structural homogeneity and controlled porosity suitable for regenerative purposes. Surface morphological analysis revealed that the porous microstructure of OC powder enhanced mechanical interlocking and filler-matrix adhesion. Differential scanning calorimetry showed an increase in crystallinity from 8.49% in neat PLA to 17.8% in PLA containing 2% OC. Density and porosity analyses confirmed optimal structural integrity at 1% OC which exhibited a porosity of 0.664%, whereas 3% OC composites demonstrated increased porosity up to 9.731%. Water absorption measurements over 240 h indicated weight gain ranging from 1.28% in neat PLA to 1.56% in the 3% OC composite with the lowest uptake of 1.27% recorded at 2% OC. Cytotoxicity declined with increasing OC content decreasing from 21% to 13% in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and from 28% to 24% in cottonseed oil extracts. Concurrently, cell viability reached 87% in PBS and 76% in cottonseed oil for the 3% OC formulation. These findings confirm the cytocompatibility of PLA/OC bio-composites and support their potential as eco-friendly, patient-specific scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.