Bioactive 3D-printed PCL-cellulose acetate scaffolds with enhanced mechanical and osteogenic properties

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Developing effective bone graft substitutes is crucial for treating bone defects.
• Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a widely used biodegradable polymer, but its mechanical properties and bioactivity can be limiting.
• Enhancing PCL's performance for load-bearing applications requires material modification and optimized scaffold architecture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize 3D-printed scaffolds using poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and PCL reinforced with 20 wt% cellulose acetate (PCLCA20).
• To evaluate the potential of these scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, focusing on mechanical integrity, cell infiltration, and biological response.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of cellulose acetate incorporation and a wall-free woodpile architecture on scaffold performance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PCL and PCLCA20 scaffolds using 3D printing with a wall-free woodpile architecture.
• Material characterization including chemical stability, hydrophilicity, and swelling capacity assessment.
• Mechanical testing (tensile and compressive) and biological evaluation using mesenchymal stem cells (adhesion, proliferation, mineralization).

Main Results:

• PCLCA20 scaffolds exhibited increased hydrophilicity and swelling capacity compared to PCL.
• Cellulose acetate reinforcement significantly improved tensile strength while maintaining compressive stability.
• Mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, proliferation, and mineralization were enhanced on PCLCA20 scaffolds.
• The wall-free architecture facilitated cell infiltration and nutrient diffusion.

Conclusions:

• The PCLCA20 composite scaffolds with a wall-free architecture demonstrate superior mechanical and biological properties for bone tissue engineering.
• Cellulose acetate acts synergistically with the PCL matrix and scaffold design to promote bone regeneration.
• These PCLCA20 scaffolds represent a promising biomaterial for load-bearing bone regeneration applications.