Improved 3D Printing and Cell Biology Characterization of Inorganic-Filler Containing Alginate-Based Composites for Bone Regeneration: Particle Shape and Effective Surface Area Are the Dominant Factors for Printing Performance

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Rainer Detsch¹  Vera Bednarzig¹  Tom C. Schneider¹  Aldo R. Boccaccini¹  Dirk W. Schubert²  Stefan Schrüfer² 

[1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Biomaterials, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Polymers, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany;

关键词: 3D printing;    alginate;    bioactive glasses;    rheology;    organic–inorganic composites;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms23094750

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The use of organic–inorganic 3D printed composites with enhanced properties in biomedical applications continues to increase. The present study focuses on the development of 3D printed alginate-based composites incorporating inorganic fillers with different shapes (angular and round), for bone regeneration. Reactive fillers (bioactive glass 13–93 and hydroxyapatite) and non-reactive fillers (inert soda–lime glass) were investigated. Rheological studies and the characterization of various extrusion-based parameters, including material throughput, printability, shape fidelity and filament fusion, were carried out to identify the parameters dominating the printing process. It was shown that the effective surface area of the filler particle has the highest impact on the printing behavior, while the filler reactivity presents a side aspect. Composites with angular particle morphologies showed the same high resolution during the printing process, almost independent from their reactivity, while composites with comparable amounts of round filler particles lacked stackability after printing. Further, it could be shown that a higher effective surface area of the particles can circumvent the need for a higher filler content for obtaining convincing printing results. In addition, it was proven that, by changing the particle shape, the critical filler content for the obtained adequate printability can be altered. Preliminary in vitro biocompatibility investigations were carried out with the bioactive glass containing ink. The 3D printed ink, forming an interconnected porous scaffold, was analyzed regarding its biocompatibility in direct or indirect contact with the pre-osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1. Both kinds of cell tests showed increased viability and a high rate of proliferation, with complete coverage of the 3D scaffolds’ surface already after 7 d post cell-seeding.

【 授权许可】

Unknown