Fabrication of 3D Printed Poly(lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Using TGF-β1 for Promoting Bone Regeneration

Cheng-Hsin Cheng; Ming-You Shie; Yi-Hui Lai; Ning-Ping Foo; Mon-Juan Lee; Chun-Hsu Yao

doi:10.3390/polym13213731

Fabrication of 3D Printed Poly(lactic acid)/Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Using TGF-β1 for Promoting Bone Regeneration

Polymers (Basel). 2021 Oct 28;13(21):3731. doi: 10.3390/polym13213731.

Authors

Cheng-Hsin Cheng^{1

2}, Ming-You Shie^{3

4

5}, Yi-Hui Lai⁶, Ning-Ping Foo^{1

7}, Mon-Juan Lee^{8

9}, Chun-Hsu Yao^{6

10

11

12}

Affiliations

¹ Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan 71101, Taiwan.
² Department of Neurosurgery, An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 70965, Taiwan.
³ 3D Printing Medical Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
⁴ School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Emergency Medicine, An Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 70965, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Bioscience Technology, Chang Jung Christian University, Guiren Dist., Tainan 711301, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Medical Sciences Industries, Chang Jung Christian University, Guiren Dist., Tainan 711301, Taiwan.
¹⁰ School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
¹¹ Biomaterials Translational Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
¹² Department of Biomedical Informatics, Asia University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.

Abstract

Our research was designed to evaluate the effect on bone regeneration with 3-dimensional (3D) printed polylactic acid (PLA) and 3D printed polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds, determine the more effective option for enhancing bone regeneration, and offer tentative evidence for further research and clinical application. Employing the 3D printing technique, the PLA and PCL scaffolds showed similar morphologies, as confirmed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical strength was significantly higher in the PLA group (63.4 MPa) than in the PCL group (29.1 MPa) (p < 0.01). Average porosity, swelling ratio, and degeneration rate in the PCL scaffold were higher than those in the PLA scaffold. SEM observation after cell coculture showed improved cell attachment and activity in the PCL scaffolds. A functional study revealed the best outcome in the 3D printed PCL-TGF-β₁ scaffold compared with the 3D printed PCL and the 3D printed PCL-Polydopamine (PDA) scaffold (p < 0.001). As confirmed via SEM, the 3D printed PCL- transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β₁) scaffold also exhibited improved cell adhesion after 6 h of cell coculture. The 3D printed PCL scaffold showed better physical properties and biocompatibility than the 3D printed PLA scaffold. Based on the data of TGF-β₁, this study confirms that the 3D printed PCL scaffold may offer stronger osteogenesis.

Keywords: bone regeneration; poly-lactic acid; polycaprolactone; three-dimensional printing; transforming growth factor-β.

Grants and funding

ANHRF110-04/Tainan Municipal An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University