Bio-functional evaluation of FDM 3D printed poly(lactic acid)/Ormocarpum cochinchinense bio-composites for mechanical...

This study examines the mechanical and biological performance of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) incorporated with Ormocarpum cochinchinense (OC) powder at 1 %, 2 % and 3 wt% loading. Mechanical testing confirmed that PLA + OC 2 wt% provided the strongest reinforcement, showing marked improvements in tensile, compressive and flexural properties compared with plain PLA. Impact strength was highest at 1 wt% OC, while the 2 % bio-composite maintained a similarly strong response. The 3 wt% bio-composite showed reduced mechanical performance due to filler agglomeration and micro void formation, although hardness continued to increase with OC content. Biological analysis demonstrated robust antimicrobial activity across all samples. OC powder exhibited the strongest inhibition zones, while the PLA + OC 2 wt% and 3 wt% bio-composites retained broad antibacterial and antifungal activity, confirming that the polymer matrix supports effective diffusion of OC's bioactive constituents. In vitro wound healing assays showed significantly enhanced fibroblast migration in all PLA + OC bio-composites compared with OC powder alone. The PLA + OC 2 wt% formulation achieved the highest wound closure, followed by the 1 % and 3 % bio-composites, indicating that balanced OC dispersion enhances cell-material interaction and supports rapid tissue regeneration. Overall, the combined results identify PLA + OC 2 wt% as the most effective and bioactive formulation, offering the strongest mechanical reinforcement, reliable antimicrobial performance and the highest wound-healing activity, confirming its suitability for regenerative biomedical applications.