Digital light processing mediated 3D printing of biocomposite bone scaffolds: Physico-chemical interactions and in-vitro biocompatibility

This study reports development of digital light processing (DLP) mediated 3D printed customized bone scaffolds. Bioactive fluorcanasite glass ceramic was incorporated within photocurable resin matrix and the suspensions were 3D printed towards developing composite bone scaffolds. Physico-chemical interaction in the biocomposite bone scaffolds were investigated using infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Further, the mechanical properties of the composite scaffold samples were also evaluated to understand the strengths of the samples in terms of its fracture toughness, flexural strength, and compressive strength. Infrared spectroscopy results demonstrated an active interaction between the acrylate functionalities of the polymer with the bioactive fluorcanasite glass ceramic reinforcement. This was further substantiated with x-ray diffraction results, demonstrating rise in the bioactive crystalline peaks with corresponding increase in the fluorcanasite glass ceramic loading. Later, the samples were also evaluated for in-vitro cellular response in terms of cell viability, proliferation, adhesion, and interaction. The surface hydrophilicity responsible for osteogenic interaction was also studied with contact angle goniometry. With increase in fluorcanasite loading in the formulation, the hydrophilicity was found to increase over the sample surface which in turn was found to enhance cell adhesion and proliferation, as revealed byin-vitro MTT assay and also fluorescence microscopy. To establish the efficacy of DLP technique, two different porous architectural designs were 3D printed and investigated with synchrotron micro-computed tomography. The microtomographs revealed precise microarchitecture and interconnected porosity within the scaffolds.

Automated summary

This study reports the development of customized bone scaffolds using digital light processing (DLP) technology. The physico-chemical interaction and mechanical properties of the composite bone scaffolds were investigated, and in-vitro cellular response was evaluated. The study demonstrates that the DLP technique can produce precise microarchitecture and interconnected porosity in the scaffolds.