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Osteoinductive and Biocompatibility Assessment of a 3D-Printed Polymeric-Hydroxyapatite Composite Interference Screw.
Rana Smaida1,2, Louis-Paul Maugard1,2, Hervé Gegout1,2
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR1260, Nanomédicine Régénérative, 1 Rue Eugène Boeckel, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
Polymers
|May 27, 2026
Summary
This study developed 3D-printed hydroxyapatite composite screws for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The novel screws demonstrated biocompatibility and enhanced bone formation, addressing graft osseointegration challenges.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction often uses interference screws, but poor graft osseointegration is a significant clinical issue.
- Enhancing bone-implant integration is crucial for successful ACL reconstruction outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a 3D-printed polycaprolactone-based composite interference screw incorporating hydroxyapatite.
- To evaluate the screw's osteoinductive potential and biocompatibility for improved ACL graft osseointegration.
Main Methods:
- Fused deposition modeling 3D printing was used to fabricate screws from a polycaprolactone-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-hydroxyapatite composite.
- Physico-chemical properties, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) responses, osteogenic gene expression, and in vivo osseointegration in a rat model were assessed.
Main Results:
- 3D printing yielded screws with consistent geometry and surface characteristics.
- The composite material demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, supporting MSC proliferation without cytotoxicity.
- Histological analysis showed progressive bone formation and upregulation of osteogenic markers, with no adverse tissue reactions.
Conclusions:
- The 3D-printed polymeric-hydroxyapatite composite interference screws are biocompatible.
- These screws effectively stimulate localized osteogenic activity, showing promise for enhancing ACL reconstruction.
- This technology offers a potential biological foundation for future clinical applications in ACL surgery.
