Fabrication of 3D Printed Poly(lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Using TGF-β1 for Promoting Bone Regeneration

Abstract

Our research was designed to evaluate the effect on bone regeneration with 3-dimensional (3D) printed polylactic acid (PLA) and 3D printed polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds, determine the more effective option for enhancing bone regeneration, and offer tentative evidence for further research and clinical application. Employing the 3D printing technique, the PLA and PCL scaffolds showed similar morphologies, as confirmed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical strength was significantly higher in the PLA group (63.4 MPa) than in the PCL group (29.1 MPa) (p 1 scaffold compared with the 3D printed PCL and the 3D printed PCL-Polydopamine (PDA) scaffold (p 1 (TGF-β1) scaffold also exhibited improved cell adhesion after 6 h of cell coculture. The 3D printed PCL scaffold showed better physical properties and biocompatibility than the 3D printed PLA scaffold. Based on the data of TGF-β1, this study confirms that the 3D printed PCL scaffold may offer stronger osteogenesis.

Keywords

• bone regeneration
• polycaprolactone
• poly-lactic acid
• three-dimensional printing
• transforming growth factor-β