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Ceramic Omnidirectional Bioprinting in Cell-Laden Suspensions for the Generation of Bone Analogs
Published on: August 8, 2022
PLA/hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds fabricated by digital light processing for bone regeneration
V J Garrido Hernández1, D Sánchez Campos2, C Velasco Santos3
1Área Académica de Ciencias de la Tierra y Materiales, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hidalgo, México.
Researchers developed 3D printed polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite (PLA/HAp) scaffolds for bone regeneration. These advanced scaffolds show excellent biocompatibility and mechanical stability, offering a promising alternative to traditional bone grafting methods.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Traditional bone grafting methods like autografts and allografts have limitations including donor site morbidity, limited availability, and immune rejection.
- Developing synthetic scaffolds that mimic the extracellular matrix is crucial for promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis in bone tissue regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and fabricate polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite (PLA/HAp) composite scaffolds using Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing.
- To investigate the effect of varying hydroxyapatite nanoparticle (HAp NP) concentrations on scaffold properties and biocompatibility.
- To evaluate the mechanical stability, structural integrity, and cell viability of the fabricated scaffolds.
Main Methods:
- PLA/HAp scaffolds with 0-5 wt% HAp NPs were fabricated using DLP 3D printing.
- Scaffold architecture, porosity, and surface morphology were characterized using CAD, FEM, SEM, and EDS.
- Cell viability was assessed using 3T3-L1 fibroblasts according to ISO 10993-5 standards.
Main Results:
- DLP printing produced scaffolds with a biomimetic architecture, interconnected pores (350 µm), and 78% theoretical porosity.
- FEM analysis confirmed high structural stability under physiological loads, with stress below PLA's elastic limit.
- SEM and EDS showed increased surface roughness with higher HAp content without NP agglomeration.
- Cell viability studies indicated high biocompatibility, with 4% and 5% HAp scaffolds showing 79.8% and 86.1% viability, respectively.
Conclusions:
- DLP 3D printing enables precise fabrication of PLA/HAp scaffolds with tunable bioactive properties.
- The developed scaffolds exhibit excellent mechanical performance and high biocompatibility, suitable for bone tissue engineering.
- These PLA/HAp scaffolds represent a promising synthetic alternative to conventional bone grafting techniques.
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