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Research on 3D-printed scaffolds with microstructure bio-inspired optimization for orbital bone defect repair
Xueman Lv1,2, Yan Liu3, Lina Wang1
1Department of Ophthalmology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, PR China.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine
|October 27, 2025
Summary
A novel 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffold with 30% beta-tricalcium phosphate (PCL@30TCP) shows enhanced mechanical properties and promotes orbital bone defect repair by improving new bone formation and expression of key proteins.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Orthopedic Engineering
Background:
- Designing orbital bone scaffolds presents challenges in mechanical compatibility, material selection, and structural design.
- Finite element analysis (FEA) is crucial for evaluating scaffold performance in orbital fracture repair.
- Optimizing scaffold patterns and material composition is key to successful tissue engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel 3D-printed scaffold for orbital bone defect repair.
- To determine the optimal scaffold structure and composition for enhanced mechanical compatibility and osteogenic potential.
- To assess the in vitro and in vivo efficacy and biosafety of the optimized scaffold.
Main Methods:
- Established an impact model database for FEA of orbital bone scaffolds.
- Designed and fabricated 3D-printed scaffolds with varying beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) content.
- Evaluated scaffold properties including hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, water absorption, degradation, cytocompatibility, and osteogenic activity.
- Conducted in vivo rabbit orbital defect repair experiments and biosafety assessments.
Main Results:
- The optimized square-pattern scaffold, PCL@30TCP (30% β-TCP, 70% polycaprolactone), showed superior hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, water absorption, and degradation rate.
- PCL@30TCP scaffolds exhibited enhanced in vitro cytocompatibility and osteogenic activity.
- In vivo studies demonstrated that PCL@30TCP significantly promoted osteogenesis by enhancing bone formation, guiding tissue ingrowth, and upregulating BMP-2 and OCN expression.
- Biosafety assessments confirmed the clinical applicability of the PCL@30TCP scaffold.
Conclusions:
- The square-patterned, 3D-printed PCL@30TCP scaffold demonstrates excellent osteogenic performance in vitro and in vivo.
- This scaffold has significant clinical potential for repairing orbital bone defects.
- The study highlights the synergistic effects of scaffold design, material composition, and biological factors in promoting bone regeneration.
