Biomechanical performances of PCL/HA micro- and macro-porous lattice scaffolds fabricated via laser powder bed fusion for bone tissue engineering

• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2021.112300
• Publication Date: 2021-07-09T04:24:34Z
• Authors: Maria Laura Gatto; Michele Furlani; Alessandra Giuliani; Nora Bloise; Lorenzo Fassina; Livia Visai; Paolo Mengucci
• Keywords: laser powder bed fusion; Tissue Engineering; Tissue Scaffolds; Lasers; Polyesters; HA; 02 engineering and technology; Bone and Bones; 620; Durapatite; PCL; Humans; Powders; micro- and macro-porous lattice scaffolds; bone tissue engineering; 0210 nano-technology; Porosity

The present experimental study aims to extend know-how on resorbable polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA, 70/30 wt%) scaffolds, produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) technology, to geometrically complex lattice structures and micro porous struts. Using optimized LPBF printing parameters, micro- and macro-porous scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration were produced by regularly repeating in space Diamond (DO) and Rhombic Dodecahedron (RD) elementary unit cells. After production, scaffolds were submitted to structural, mechanical, and biological characterization. The interaction of scaffolds with human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) allowed studying the degradative processes of the PCL matrix. Biomechanical performances and biodegradation of scaffolds were compared to literature results and bone tissue data. Mechanical compression test, biological viability up to 4 days of incubation and degradation rate evidenced strong dependence of scaffold behavior on unit cell geometry as well as on global geometrical features.