3D gel-printing of hierarchically porous BCP scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

In this study, a conventional technique of porous preparation was used to improve the constructive capability of direct ink writing on microstructures, and the hierarchically porous scaffolds were successfully prepared by 3D gel printing (3DGP). Micron-sized hydroxyapatite (HA) was coated with tricalcium phosphate (TCP) nanopowders synthesized by chemical co-precipitation to form biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP). The random structure of concave micropores was achieved by filling the BCP slurry with PMMA microspheres while successfully controlling the internal porosity of printed filaments. The results showed that the three-stage porous structure was successfully constructed, i.e., macroscopic pores of 1.50–2.00 mm, spherical micropores of 100–200 µm, and inter-powder interstices of 1.00–10.00 µm. Nano-TCP coated micron-HA powders improved the sintering activity of BCP particles. The compressive strength and porosity of the scaffolds sintered at 1400 °C were 2.78 MPa and 84.98%. The hierarchically porous BCP scaffolds had bright applications in bone tissue engineering.     

Photothermal effect of 3D printed hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds incorporated with graphene nanoplatelets

Porous scaffolds with photothermal effect could be used in the treatment of malignant bone tumors. Herein, graphene nanoplatelets were incorporated into the apatite/gelatin composites to construct porous scaffolds by 3D printing. Under near infrared laser irradiation, the composite scaffolds demonstrated high photothermal conversion efficiency. The temperature of scaffolds could be heated to 43 °C by controlling time and power of the laser irradiation, and then cooled to room temperature subsequently. Mild photothermal treatment (40–43 °C) was applied on MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on the scaffolds. It was found that after 3 cycles of treatment, the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was significantly accelerated. It was suggested that the incorporation of graphene nanoplatelets into 3D printed hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds have the potential to accelerate bone regeneration after photothermal treatment for malignant bone tumors.     

Enhanced mechanical properties and biological responses of SLA 3D printed biphasic calcium phosphate bioceramics by doping bioactive metal elements

Favorable mechanical properties and outstanding bioactivity are necessary for bioceramics used for bone defect repair. The doping of Mg²⁺ and Fe³⁺ can improve the mechanical properties and bone regeneration capacity of calcium phosphate ceramics. In this study, magnesia oxide (MgO), ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃), and iron (Fe) powders are chosen as dopants to enhance biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) bioceramics, and the MgO-BCP, Fe₂O₃-BCP, Fe-BCP bioceramics are prepared by stereolithography (SLA) for the first time. The effects of these dopants on the curing behavior of bioceramic slurries, mechanical properties, biodegradation, and cytocompatibility of BCP bioceramics are studied. The addition of 1 wt% Fe well enhances the flexural strength of BCP from 91.61 MPa to 122.60 MPa sintered at 1250 °C. The addition of 1 wt% MgO effectively promotes the biodegradation of BCP in simulated body solution (SBF), and enhances the proliferation of mouse pre-osteoblast (MC3T3-E1) cells in vitro. In addition, Fe powder is more suitable as a dopant for SLA 3D printed BCP than Fe₂O₃ powder, and all the performances of Fe-BCP are better than those of Fe₂O₃-BCP. The less microstructure defects and slower Fe³⁺ release rate make Fe-BCP have higher flexural strength and less cytotoxic compared with Fe₂O₃-BCP. This novel way exhibits beneficial effects of bioactive metal elements on mechanical properties and bioactivity, and indicates SLA 3D printed BCP bioceramic doped with MgO, Fe can be promising candidates for bone defect repair.     

Characterisation of 3D Bioprinted Human Breast Cancer Model for In Vitro Drug and Metabolic Targeting

Monolayer cultures, the less standard three-dimensional (3D) culturing systems, and xenografts are the main tools used in current basic and drug development studies of cancer research. The aim of biofabrication is to design and construct a more representative in vivo 3D environment, replacing two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. Here, we aim to provide a complex comparative analysis of 2D and 3D spheroid culturing, and 3D bioprinted and xenografted breast cancer models. We established a protocol to produce alginate-based hydrogel bioink for 3D bioprinting and the long-term culturing of tumour cells in vitro. Cell proliferation and tumourigenicity were assessed with various tests. Additionally, the results of rapamycin, doxycycline and doxorubicin monotreatments and combinations were also compared. The sensitivity and protein expression profile of 3D bioprinted tissue-mimetic scaffolds showed the highest similarity to the less drug-sensitive xenograft models. Several metabolic protein expressions were examined, and the in situ tissue heterogeneity representing the characteristics of human breast cancers was also verified in 3D bioprinted and cultured tissue-mimetic structures. Our results provide additional steps in the direction of representing in vivo 3D situations in in vitro studies. Future use of these models could help to reduce the number of animal experiments and increase the success rate of clinical phase trials.     

Fabrication of forsterite scaffolds with photothermal-induced antibacterial activity by 3D printing and polymer-derived ceramics strategy

Bacterial infection of the implanting materials is one of the greatest challenges in bone tissue engineering. In this study, porous forsterite scaffolds with antibacterial activity have been fabricated by combining 3D printing and polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) strategy, which effectively avoided the generation of MgSiO₃ and MgO impurities. Forsterite scaffolds sintered in an argon atmosphere can generate free carbon in the scaffolds, which exhibited excellent photothermal effect and could inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro. In addition, forsterite scaffolds have uniform macroporous structure, high compressive strength (>30 MPa) and low degradation rate. Hence, forsterite scaffolds fabricated by combining 3D printing and PDCs strategy would be a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering.     

Solvent-Cast 3D Printing of Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds

3D printing is a popular fabrication technique because of its ability to produce complex architectures. Melt-based 3D printing is widely used for thermoplastic polymers like poly(caprolactone) (PCL), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) because of their low processing temperatures. However, traditional melt-based techniques require processing temperatures and pressures high enough to achieve continuous flow, limiting the type of polymer that can be printed. Solvent-cast printing (SCP) offers an alternative approach to print a wider range of polymers. Polymers are dissolved in a volatile solvent that evaporates during deposition to produce a solid polymer filament. SCP, therefore, requires optimizing polymer concentration in the ink, print pressure, and print speed to achieve desired print fidelity. Here, capillary flow analysis shows how print pressure affects the process-apparent viscosity of PCL, PLA, and PLGA inks. Ink viscosity is also measured using rheology, which is used to link a specific ink viscosity to a predicted set of print pressure and print speed for all three polymers. These results demonstrate how this approach can be used to accelerate optimization by significantly reducing the number of parameter combinations. This strategy can be applied to other polymers to expand the library of polymers printable with SCP.     

3D pore-interconnected calcium phosphate bone blocks for bone tissue engineering

Pore size and connectivity of artificial bone scaffolds play key role in regulating cell ingrowth and vascularization during healing. The objective of this study was to develop a novel process for preparing 3D pore-interconnected open-cell bone substitutes with varying pore sizes. This was achieved by thermal-induced expansion, drying, then sintering the mixture of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and a thermal responsive porogen comprising chitosan (CS) and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). The interpolymer complexes (IPCs) of CS/HPMC were prepared and investigated by FT-IR. The mixtures of IPCs/BCP were heated up to 100 °C for analyzing their thermal expansion properties. This resulted in ~13% and ~42% volume increment for IPC-1/BCP and IPC-2/BCP, respectively, while ~230% volume increased in the case of IPC-3/BCP (therefore chosen for sintering bone blocks). Heating rate-dependent (0.20–0.25 °C/min range) sintering profiles for IPC-3/BCP were utilized to produce BCP bone blocks. Gasification of IPC during sintering resulted in the formation of interconnected porous structures, and the morphology was investigated by SEM, revealing varying sizes ranging from 106 ± 13 μm to 1123 ± 75 μm. The pore size range of bone blocks from 235 ± 46 μm to 459 ± 76 μm portrayed significantly high MC3T3-E1 cell viability with prominent filopodial extensions, and elongated cells, depicting efficient biocompatibility. Therefore, the process for preparing porous interconnected 3D bone blocks were feasible, thereby serving as an alternative for potential bone tissue engineering applications.     

3D printing of porous scaffolds BaTiO3 piezoelectric ceramics and regulation of their mechanical and electrical properties

A series of porous scaffolds of piezoelectric ceramic barium titanate (BaTiO₃) were successfully fabricated by Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing technology in this work. To obtain a high-precision and high-purity sample, the debinding sintering profile was explored and the optimal parameters were determined as 1425 °C for 2h. With the increase of scaffolds porosity from 10% to 90%, the compressive strength and piezoelectric coefficient (d₃₃) decreased gradually. The empirical formulas about the mechanical and piezoelectric properties were obtained by adjusting BaTiO₃ ceramics with different porosity. In addition, the distribution of potential and stress under 100 MPa pressure were studied by the finite element method (FEM).     

3D printing of polycaprolactone/bioactive glass composite scaffolds for in situ bone repair

3D printing technology can fabricate customized scaffolds based on patient-derived medical images, so it has attracted much attention in the field of developing bone repair scaffolds. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a suitable polymer for preparing bone repair scaffolds because of its good biocompatibility, thermal stability, excellent mechanical properties and degradable properties. However, PCL is a bioinert material and cannot induce new bone formation at the defect site. In this study, the bioactive material 58s bioactive glass was mixed into PCL to form PCL/bioactive glass composite material. The results of contact angle showed that the hydrophilicity of the scaffold was significantly enhanced with the increase of bioactive glass content. In vitro experiment results showed that, with the increase of bioactive glass content, cell adhesion and proliferation were enhanced, the expression levels of Runx2 and Collagen I(COL-I) were upregulated. The experimental results of in vivo radial defect repair in rats also showed that the effect of bone repair was improved with the increase of bioactive glass content. In conclusion, PCL customized bone repair scaffold containing 20% bioactive glass has widely potential used in the field of clinical bone repair.     

3D gel printing of magnetic hydrogel scaffolds assisted by in-situ gelation in a water level-controlled crosslinker bath

Polyvinylalcohol/chitosan (PVA/CS) is an excellent dual-network hydrogel material, but some significant challenges remain in fabricating composites with specific structures. In this study, 3D gel printing (3DGP) combined with a water-level controlled crosslinker bath was proposed for the rapid in-situ prototyping of PVA/CS/Fe₃O₄ magnetic hydrogel scaffolds. Specifically, the PVA/CS/Fe₃O₄ hydrogels were extruded into the crosslinker water to achieve rapid in-situ gelation, improving the printability of hydrogel scaffolds. The effect of the PVA/CS ratio on the rheological and mechanical properties of dual-network magnetic hydrogels was evaluated. The printing parameters were systematically optimized to facilitate the coordination between the crosslinking water bath and printer. The different crosslinking water baths were investigated to improve the printability of PVA/CS/Fe₃O₄ hydrogels. The results showed that the printability of the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) crosslinker was significantly better than that of sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). The magnetic hydrogels (PVA: CS= 1: 1) crosslinked by NaOH had better compressive strength, swelling rate, and saturation magnetization of 1.17 MPa, 92.43%, and 22.19 emu/g, respectively. The MC3T3-E1 cell culture results showed that the PVA/CS/Fe₃O₄ scaffolds promoted cell adhesion and proliferation, and the scaffolds crosslinked by NaOH had superior cytocompatibility. 3DGP combined with a water-level controlled crosslinker bath offers a promising approach to preparing magnetic hydrogel materials.     

混凝土3D打印材料及3D打印模板技术应用进展

混凝土3D打印是现代数字化制造的典型代表,因其智能化、个性化、绿色建造的工艺优势受到广泛关注。作为一种新型建造方式,3D打印为建筑业带来了颠覆性的影响,并对传统混凝土材料提出了全新的挑战。如何提升混凝土材料与3D打印技术的适应性,实现3D打印技术在建筑中的广泛应用是人们普遍关注的焦点。本文概述了混凝土3D打印技术的发展历程,系统论述了混凝土3D打印材料在流变性、可挤出性、可建造性以及力学性能方面的研究现状,同时,介绍了3D打印模板技术在装饰及异型构筑物上的典型应用,以期为混凝土3D打印的研究与未来工程发展提供一定的参考与借鉴。     

三维打印珍珠粉-硫酸钙/聚己内酯复合支架及性能研究

具有生物相容性的支架可以作为可控的细胞外环境,供细胞附着、增殖、分化以及组织生成,在组织工程中有着重要的作用。本研究运用三维打印技术制备了珍珠粉-硫酸钙/聚己内酯(Pearl-CaSO_4/PCL)复合支架,详细研究了珍珠粉含量对复合支架的理化性能和生物学性能的影响。结果表明,复合支架具有350mm左右的三维连通大孔,其孔隙率约60%,支架强度可达8 MPa。珍珠粉的复合能够有效调节复合支架的降解速率并稳定支架周围的体液环境。细胞实验结果表明,Pearl-CaSO_4/PCL复合支架能够促进骨髓间充质干细胞的增殖与分化,且与珍珠粉的含量呈正相关。因此,Pearl-CaSO_4/PCL复合支架在骨缺损修复领域具有应用前景。     

3D打印塑料材料在汽车配件设计中的应用

近年来,汽车产业出现了以塑代钢的轻量化趋势,随着3D打印技术的不断发展,3D打印塑料材料在汽车配件设计中应用广泛,能够有效地节省汽车研发周期,削减成本。概述了3D打印塑料材料的现状,包括其种类、形态及改进技术,及其对于汽车配件设计的影响;介绍了3D打印塑料材料在汽车配件设计中的应用,并对其在汽车配件设计中的未来发展趋势进行了探讨。     

3D打印混凝土材料及混凝土建筑技术进展

3D打印是近年来发展起来的高新技术,已在机械制造等行业取得很大成功,在材料和建筑等领域也有所发展.本文在介绍通用3D打印技术进展的基础上,着重阐述了混凝土材料的传统施工工艺、国内外3D打印混凝土技术与其材料和施工工艺的发展现状,讨论了3D打印混凝土当前所面临的问题,并对3D打印混凝土提出了未来展望.     

3D porous HA/TCP composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Calcium phosphates (apatites) are considered as a research frontier for bone regeneration applications by virtue of similarity to the mineral constituent of bone, suitable biocompatibility and remarkable osteogenesis ability. In this regard, the biodegradability and mechanical properties of monophasic apatites, typically hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP), are imperfect and do not fulfill some requirements. To overcome these drawbacks, 3D porous HA/TCP composite scaffolds prepared by conventional and more recently, 3D printing techniques have shown to be promising since their bioperformance is adjustable by the HA/TCP ratio and pores. Despite the publication of several reviews on either 3D porous scaffolds or biphasic calcium phosphates (BCPs), no review paper has to our knowledge focused on 3D porous BCP scaffolds. This paper comprehensively reviews the production methods, properties, applications and modification approaches of 3D porous HA/TCP composite scaffolds for the first time. In addition, new insights are introduced towards developing HA/TCP scaffolds with more impressive bioperformance for further tissue engineering applications, including those with different interior and exterior frameworks, patient-specific specifications and drugs (or other biological factors) loading.     

3D-printed strontium-doped BG-CaSiO3-HA composite scaffolds promote critical bone defect repair by improving mechanical strength and increasing osteogenic activity

The release of silicon and calcium elements contained in silicon-based materials promotes the formation of bone. For bioactive glass prepared by the sol-gel method, water-soluble binders are usually added when preparing 3D printed scaffolds. However, the obtained scaffolds are prone to collapse when exposed to water and have low strength. At the same time, the binder needs to be removed for clinical applications, so the 3D printed scaffolds need to be sintered. Under high temperature, bioactive glass scaffolds will be transformed into composite scaffolds composed of bioglass, CaSiO₃ and hydroxyapatite, while different sintering temperatures will form different crystal types of CaSiO₃. In this study, SrBG-βCS-HA and BG-βCS-HA were obtained at a heating rate of 5 °C/min to 1100 °C and at the same rate to room temperature. SrBG-αCS-HA and BG-αCS-HA were obtained at a heating rate of 2 °C/min to 1200 °C and at the same rate to room temperature. In vitro and in vivo experiments verified that the presence of strontium in the obtained scaffolds after sintering further enhanced the osteogenic properties of the scaffolds. SrBG-αCaSiO₃-HA and SrBG-βCaSiO₃-HA were found to have relatively better osteogenic properties. The results show that SrBG-CaSiO₃-HA 3D printing scaffolds have excellent clinical application potential.     

Direct ink writing of vancomycin-loaded polycaprolactone/ polyethylene oxide/ hydroxyapatite 3D scaffolds

Novel inks were formulated by dissolving polycaprolactone (PCL), a hydrophobic polymer, in organic solvent systems; polyethylene oxide (PEO) was incorporated to extend the range of hydrophilicity of the system. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) with a weight ratio of 55–85% was added to the polymer-based solution to mimic the material composition of natural bone tissue. The direct ink writing (DIW) technique was applied to extrude the formulated inks to fabricate the predesigned tissue scaffold structures; the influence of HAp concentration was investigated. The results indicate that in comparison to other inks containing HAp (55%, 75%, and 85%w/w), the ink containing 65% w/w HAp had faster ink recovery behavior; the fabricated scaffold had a rougher surface as well as better mechanical properties and wettability. It is noted that the 65% w/w HAp concentration is similar to the inorganic composition of natural bone tissue. The elastic modulus values of PCL/PEO/HAp scaffolds were in the range of 4–12 MPa; the values were dependent on the HAp concentration. Furthermore, vancomycin as a model drug was successfully encapsulated in the PCL/PEO/HAp composite scaffold for drug release applications. This paper presents novel drug-loaded PCL/PEO/HAp inks for 3D scaffold fabrication using the DIW printing technique for potential bone scaffold applications.     

3D打印高分子材料研究进展

简单介绍了不同3D打印技术的原理,并对不同打印技术所用的高分子材料进行了介绍。其中,聚乳酸和聚己内酯的加工性能、生物相容性和可降解性能较好,通过共混改性可以提高其力学性能,可应用于熔融沉积打印;聚碳酸酯和丙烯腈–丁二烯–苯乙烯塑料的力学性能和加工性能良好,均能用于熔融沉积打印;聚醚醚酮的加工性能较差,但力学性能和尺寸稳定性较好,可应用选择性激光烧结打印技术,也可以应用高温下的熔融沉积技术;光敏树脂利用光引发剂引发固化,通过改性可提高其力学性能,从而应用于立体光固化技术;高分子粉末烧结温度低,力学性能和尺寸稳定性好,多用于选择性激光烧结技术。