Authors: Dienel, Kasper E. G.; van Bochove, Bas; Seppala, Jukka, V
Organizations: Business Finland
Implants of bioresorbable materials combined with osteoconductive calcium phosphate ceramics show promising results to replace and repair damaged bone tissue. Here we present additive manufacturing of patient-specific porous scaffolds of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) including high amounts of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP). Tensile testing of composite networks showed that addition of beta-tricalcium phosphate reinforces the composites significantly. Three-dimensional structures containing up to 60 wt % beta-TCP could be built by stereolithography. By lowering the content to 51 wt %, manufacturing of a large-sized patient-specific prototype was possible at high resolution. Closer examination revealed that the created scaffolds contained more beta-TCP on the surface of the builds. Stereolithography therefore provides a manufacturing technique where the bioactive agent is directly available for creating an enhanced microenvironment for cell growth. The biocompatibility and bioresorption of PTMC coupled with the osteoconductivity of beta-TCP are an important candidate to consider in additive manufacturing of bone regeneration implants.
