Biodegradable 3D Printed Scaffolds of Modified Poly(trimethylene
carbonate) Composite Materials with Poly(L-lactic acid) and
Hydroxyapatite for Bone Regeneration
Abstract
The biodegradable scaffolds based on biomedical polymeric materials have
attracted the wide interest in bone transplantation for clinical
treatment to bone defects without the second operation. The composite
materials of poly(trimethylene carbonate), poly(L-lactic acid) and
hydroxyapatite (PTMC/PLA/HA) were prepared by the modification and
blending of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) with poly(L-lactic acid)
(PLA) and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA). The PTMC/PLA/HA scaffolds
were further prepared by additive manufacturing using the biological 3D
printing method. The PTMC/PLA/HA composite materials and scaffolds were
also characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR),
GPC, automatic contact-angle, SEM, XRD, differential scanning
calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). Subsequently, their
properties, such as the mechanic, biodegradation, drug controlled
release, cell cytotoxicity, cell compatibility in vitro and
proliferation/differentiation assay in vivo, were also investigated.
Experiment results indicated that PTMC/PLA/HA scaffolds possessed the
low toxicity, good biodegradability and good biocompatibility and then
improved the cell proliferation of osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1).
Moreover, PTMC/PLA/HA enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of
MC3T3-E1 cells, allowing penetration of host cells within the construct
boundaries, and then can enable the growing of bone cells and induction
of bone tissue regeneration. Therefore, PTMC/PLA/HA composite materials
can be used as the potential biodegradable scaffolds for bone
regeneration and tissue engineering in vivo.