Tissue regeneration using 3D-printed bioactive glass scaffolds

The quest for synthetic materials to be used in Tissue Engineering, as expanded at a tremendous rate in the previous years. An optimum scaffold should be biodegradable, osteoconductive or preferably osteoinductive, manufactured in a reproducible manner and mechanically stable. The choices of materials and fabrication process are two significant factors that determine the success of engineered scaffolds. The bioactivity of the eventual composite material not only depends on the choice of bioceramic (including bioactive glass, hydroxyapatite) but also depends on the method of composite preparation itself. Composite foams and films made by traditional fabrication methods such as solvent casting and particle leaching and thermally induced phase separation have reported improved water absorption and formation of hydroxyapatite. However, it is difficult to control the scaffold porosity and shape using such methods. Scaffolds made with AM techniques such as selective laser sintering and ink-jet printing have also shown improved bioactivity, but incorporating cells during fabrication akin to bioprinting is not feasible due to processing limitations. 3D bioprinting is a process that fabricates a living construct in a layer-by-layer fashion using a bio-ink with or without additional materials. Several types of materials, including biocompatible metals, bioceramics, and biopolymers are currently being investigated as candidates for synthetic grafts. Biocompatible polymers such as polycaprolactone, provide strength and elasticity to scaffolds. PCL is one of the most widely used materials in 3D printing for biomedical applications because of its low cost and excellent rheological and viscoelastic properties. Borate based bioactive glasses are biocompatible, osteoconductive, and angiogenic

کلیدواژه ها:

Bioactive glass ، 3D bioprinting ، Bioceramics ، Biocompatible ، Tissue engineering