Engineering printable composites of poly (epsilon-polycaprolactone) / beta-tricalcium phosphate for biomedical applications

Author(s)

Goncalves Beatrice, Cesar Augusto ^[1] ; Boriolo Shimomura, Kawany Munique ^[2] ; Backes, Eduardo Henrique ^[1] ; Harb, Samarah Vargas ^[2] ; Costa, Lidiane Cristina ^{[1, 2]} ; Passador, Fabio Roberto ^[3] ; Pessan, Luiz Antonio ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Grad Program Mat Sci & Engn, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Mat Engn, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Sci & Technol, Rua Talim 330, BR-12231280 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Polymer Composites; v. 42, n. 3 DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The incorporation of bioactive beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) into poly (epsilon-polycaprolactone) (PCL) originates a composite biomaterial with required properties for a variety of biomedical application. We manufactured bioactive composites of PCL/TCP by melt compounding and assessed their rheological, structural, and thermal behavior, envisioning the use of the composites as filaments for additive manufacturing via fused filament fabrication (FFF). Biocomposites of PCL with 5 wt% and 10 wt% of TCP presented similar thermal stability, crystallinity, molecular weight, and rheological behavior of neat PCL, while the addition of 25 wt% TCP leads to the formation of TCP agglomerates and increased viscosity. These results show that low concentrations of TCP in the PCL matrix make it more suitable for FFF since no change in the printing process is required. PCL/TCP filaments were fabricated by a twin-screw extruder and used to print scaffolds using FFF. The possibility to design scaffolds with specific size, geometry, and porosity enables the application of diverse types of tissue engineering. Herein, we demonstrated the feasibility of the fabrication of 3D printed PCL/TCP scaffolds for bone regeneration with improved mechanical properties and controlled geometry. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/11366-7 - Development of bio-inspired PLA/bioglass scaffolds via 3D printed
• Grantee: Eduardo Henrique Backes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/26060-3 - Bioactive and bactericidal scaffolds for bone regeneration via 3D printing
• Grantee: Samarah Vargas Harb
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/09609-9 - Development of bioinspired scaffolds of PLA/bioactive ceramic fillers through 3D printing
• Grantee: Luiz Antonio Pessan
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/14151-4 - Development and characterization of bioactive PCL/TCP composites
• Grantee: Kawany Munique Boriolo Shimomura
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 11/21313-1 - Study of the reaction kinetic and the addition of the metal deactivators in the grafting of maleic anhydride onto polypropylene in the presence and absence of the nanoparticles
• Grantee: Silvia Helena Prado Bettini
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants