Additive manufacturing of PLA-Mg composite scaffolds for hard tissue engineering applications

Polylactic acid (PLA) is considered as a great option to be employed as 3D porous scaffold in hard tissue engi-neering applications owing to its excellent biocompatibility and processability. However, relatively weak me-chanical properties and inappropriate biodegradability limit its extensive usage. In order to overcome the mentioned challenges, micrometric magnesium particles were incorporated into the PLA matrix by the fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique. The effects of various Mg contents (i.e., 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 wt%) on the structural, thermal, rheological, mechanical, wettability, degradability characteristics and cellular behavior of the 3D porous PLA-Mg composite scaffolds were examined. The developed PLA-Mg composites exhibit an interconnected porous structure with a mostly uniform distribution of Mg particles in the PLA matrix. It was found that incorporation of Mg particles into the PLA matrix enhances the mechanical, physical, chemical and biological characteristics of PLA. The cell studies demonstrate that the PLA-6Mg composite scaffold provides the best cellular response in terms of cell atachment and viability. The obtained results in this investigation greatly suggest that the 3D-printed PLA-Mg composite scaffold is a promising candidate for hard tissue engineering applications.

Automated summary

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising option for hard tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility and processability, but its weak mechanical properties and biodegradability restrict its usage. To overcome these limitations, micrometric magnesium particles were incorporated into the PLA matrix via fused deposition modeling (FDM). The PLA-Mg composites exhibited improved mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, with the PLA-6Mg composite scaffold showing the best cellular response. 3D-printed PLA-Mg composite scaffold shows great potential for hard tissue engineering applications.