Optimized 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid/Graphene Oxide Scaffolds for Enhanced Bone Regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers potential for bone regeneration scaffolds, but optimal design and pore size are undetermined.
• Polylactic acid (PLA) with graphene oxide (GO) shows promise for enhanced mechanical and biological properties in bone regeneration scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of structural design and pore size on the performance of 3D printed PLA/GO scaffolds for bone regeneration.
• To identify optimal scaffold parameters balancing mechanical stability and osteogenic potential.

Main Methods:

• Fabricated PLA/GO scaffolds with two architectures (lattice and dode) and varied pore sizes using UV-curable resin.
• Assessed scaffold properties via physical accuracy, porosity, compression, and fatigue testing.
• Evaluated biocompatibility and bone regeneration in rat and rabbit calvarial defect models.

Main Results:

• Scaffolds with 558 μm and 562 μm pore sizes exhibited favorable mechanical properties and fracture behavior.
• In vivo studies confirmed excellent biocompatibility for both pore sizes.
• The 558 μm scaffold promoted early bone formation, while the 562 μm scaffold supported more mature bone regeneration.

Conclusions:

• Optimized PLA/GO scaffolds (558 μm and 562 μm) demonstrate a balance between mechanical stability and biological performance for bone tissue engineering.
• Threshold mechanical properties significantly influence osteogenesis in 3D printed scaffolds.
• This study provides a translational strategy for developing effective bone regeneration materials.