Fabrication, morphological, mechanical and biological performance of 3D printed poly(ε-caprolactone)/bioglass composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications

Several techniques, such as additive manufacturing, have been used for the manufacture of polymer-ceramic composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. A new extruder head recently developed for improving the manufacturing process is an experimental 3D printer Fab@CTI that enables the use of ceramic powders in the processing of composite materials or polymer blends. Still, the manufacturing process needs improvement to promote the dispersion of ceramic particles in the polymer matrix. This article addresses the manufacture of scaffolds by 3D printing from mixtures of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and a glass powder of same composition of 45S5Bioglass (R), labeled as synthesized bioglass (SBG), according to two different methods that investigated the efficiency of the new extruder head. The first one is a single extrusion process in a Fab@CTI 3D printer, and the other consists in the pre-processing of the PCL-SBG mixture in a mono-screw extruder with a Maddock (R) element, followed by direct extrusion in the experimental Fab@CTI 3D printer. The morphological characterization of the extruded samples by scanning electron microscope showed an architecture of 0 degrees/90 degrees interconnected struts and suitable porosity for bone tissue engineering applications. Scaffolds fabricated by two methods shows compressive modulus ranging from 54.4 +/- 14.2 to 155.9 +/- 20.4 MPa, results that are compatible to use in bone tissue engineering. Cytotoxicity assays showed non-toxic effects and viability for in vitro MG-63 cell proliferation. Alizarin Red staining test showed calcium deposition in all scaffolds, which suggests PCL/SBG composites promising candidates for use in bone tissue engineering. Results of cell morphology suggest more cell growth and adhesion for scaffolds fabricated using the pre-processing in a mono-screw extruder.

Automated summary

This article discusses the manufacture of polymer-ceramic composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering using a new extruder head in a 3D printer. The study compares two different methods and finds favorable results in terms of manufacturing efficiency and cell proliferation.