Additive manufacturing of poly (lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite/carbon nanotubes biocomposites for fibroblast cell proliferation

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 13; no. 1; p. 20387
• Main Authors: da Luz Belo, Francilene, Vasconcelos, Esleane Vilela, Pinheiro, Miriane Alexandrino, da Cruz Barbosa Nascimento, Damares, Passos, Marcele Fonseca, da Silva, Alisson Clay Rios, dos Reis, Marcos Allan Leite, Monteiro, Sérgio Neves, Brígida, Rebecca Thereza Silva Santa, Rodrigues, Ana Paula Drummond, Candido, Verônica Scarpini
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 21.11.2023; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/166; 639/301; Additive manufacturing; Biological properties; Carbon; Cell Proliferation; Durapatite - chemistry; Fibroblasts; Fourier transforms; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hydroxyapatite; Infrared spectroscopy; Lactic Acid - chemistry; Light microscopy; multidisciplinary; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Nanotubes, Carbon; Polyesters - chemistry; Polylactic acid; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Raman spectroscopy; Scanning electron microscopy; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Spectrum analysis; Thermal stability; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47413-0

Bone tissue is one of the most important in the human body. In this study, scaffolds of poly (lactic acid) PLA reinforced with hydroxyapatite (HA) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) were manufactured, evaluating their mechanical and biological properties. HA was synthesized by wet method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The scaffolds were produced using additive manufacturing and characterized by optical microscopy, SEM, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman spectroscopy and biological tests. The SEM results showed that the PLA surface was affected by the incorporation of CNT. TG showed that the incorporation of HA into the polymer matrix compromised the thermal stability of PLA. On the other hand, the incorporation of CNT to the polymer and the impregnation with HA on the surface by thermal effect increased the stability of PLA/CNT scaffolds . Raman spectra indicated that HA impregnation on the surface did not modify the polymer or the ceramic. In the compression tests, PLA and PLA/CNT scaffolds displayed the best compressive strength. In the biological tests, more than 85% of the cells remained viable after 48 h of incubation with all tested scaffolds and groups with CNT in the composition disclosing the best results.