Main author: Vilhjálmur Grétar Elíasson
Institution or Company: Háskóli Íslands, Genís, Nýsköpunarmiðstöð Íslands
Co-Authors, Institution or Company:
Gissur Örlygsson, Nýsköpunarmiðstöð Íslands. Ng Chuen How, Genís. Sigrún Nanna Karlsdóttir, Háskóli Íslands. Sigurður Brynjólfsson, Háskóli Íslands.
Introduction: Polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds produced by 3D printing is a promising concept for bone tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to design, 3D print and characterize prototype PLA scaffold implants with varying porosity and a minimum pore size of 300 µm. Mimicking the characteristics and functions of cortical-cancellous bone structures.
Method: A commercial fused deposition modeling (FDM) desktop 3D printer was used to print the scaffolds. Three prototype parts were designed with three different porosities. Straight stacked beams (SSB), porous sodalite crystals (PSC) and porous hexagonal prisms (PHP) and each with porosity of 25%, 50% and 70%. High-quality scaffolds with wall thicknesses as low as 300 µm were printed and the mechanical properties measured.
Results: The compressive strength of printed scaffolds, depending on the design and porosity, ranged from 5.6 MPa to 46.7 MPa. Which, in comparison to cancellous bone (1.5 MPa to 45 MPa), is satisfactory but unacceptable when compared to cortical bone (90 MPa to 209 MPa).
Conclusions: The designs, production method and materials provide appropriate porosity, mechanical properties and biological conditions to allow cancellous bone tissue regeneration and could serve as a cost-effective way of creating regenerative implants for damaged or defective cancellous bone.
