Large artificial bone from 3D printed polycaprolactone/β-tricalcium phosphate (3D PCL/β-TCP) effectively promoting MC3T3-E1 cell adhesion, proliferation, and new bone formation

• Published in: European polymer journal 2024-05, Vol.211, p.113046, Article 113046
• Main Authors: Niu, Yuxin, Song, Fuxiang, Shan, Rong, Zhao, Qianjuan, Chen, Zhuang, Wang, Na, Xie, Weibo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D PCL/β-TCP; Adhesion and proliferation; Large artificial bone; Lattice structure; Osteogenesis
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2024.113046

[Display omitted] •The PCL/β-TCP bone block was constructed by 3D printing and could be matched with the bone defect.•3D PCL/β-TCP presented a lattice structure similar to natural bone.•The addition of β-TCP nanoparticles improved the mechanical and hydrophilic properties of 3D PCL/β-TCP.•3D PCL/β-TCP with 20 wt% β-TCP facilitated the proliferation and adhesion of MC3T3-E1 cells. The use of 3D printing technology has advanced the bone tissue engineering, and constructing large artificial bones for repairing large-scale bone defects is highly significant. This study aimed to construct large artificial bones in a precise and controllable manner, focusing on repairing critical-sized bone defects. The researchers used 3D printing technology to synthesize 3D PCL/β-TCP, and then evaluated its ability to promote MC3T3-E1 cell adhesion, proliferation, and new bone formation through a series of characterizations. The results confirmed that 3D PCL/β-TCP, presented as a lattice structure similar to natural bone, could be used to prepare personalized artificial bone blocks based on the actual range of bone defects. The researchers also experimented with dipping 3D PCL/β-TCP bone blocks in different proportions of β-TCP and found that PT2 showed better mechanical and hydrophilic properties. Further experiments showed that PT2 presented excellent biocompatibility and outstanding capacity to promote MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and adhesion, and that 3D PCL/β-TCP bone blocks possessed good osteogenic activity. Finally, it was suggested that PT2 exhibited the property of promoting new bone formation. These findings provide experimental data support for the repair of critical-sized bone defects.