Improved biocomposite development of poly(vinyl alcohol) and hydroxyapatite for tissue engineering scaffold fabrication using selective laser sintering

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 989 - 996
• Main Authors: Wiria, Florencia Edith, Chua, Chee Kai, Leong, Kah Fai, Quah, Zai Yan, Chandrasekaran, Margam, Lee, Mun Wai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.03.2008; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemical synthesis; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biomaterials; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Bone Cements - chemical synthesis; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composite Resins - chemical synthesis; Composites; Durapatite - chemistry; Glass; Lasers; Materials Science; Models, Biological; Natural Materials; Polymer Sciences; Polyvinyl Alcohol - chemistry; Powders - chemical synthesis; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Studies; Surfaces and Interfaces; Temperature; Thin Films; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - instrumentation; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; Test Sinter; Selective Laser Sinter Machine; Vinyl Alcohol; Tissue Engineering Scaffold; Selective Laser Sinter
• ISSN: 0957-4530; 1573-4838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10856-007-3176-5

In scaffold guided tissue engineering (TE), temporary three-dimensional scaffolds are essential to guide and support cell proliferation. Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is studied for the development of such scaffolds by eliminating pore spatial control problems faced in conventional scaffolds fabrication methods. SLS offers good user control over the scaffold’s microstructures by adjusting its main processing parameters, namely the laser power, scan speed and part bed temperature. This research focuses on the improvements in the fabrication of TE scaffolds using SLS with powder biomaterials, namely hydroxyapatite (HA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Grinding of as-received PVA powder to varying particle sizes and two methods of mixing are investigated as the preparation process to determine a better mixing method that would enhance the mixture homogeneity. Suitable sintering conditions for the improved biocomposite are then achieved by varying the important process parameters such as laser power, scan speed and part bed temperature. SLS fabricated samples are characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). FTIR results show that the grinding and sintering processes neither compromise the chemical composition of the PVA nor cause undue degradation. Visual analysis of the grinding, powder mixing and sintering effect are carried out with SEM. The SEM observations show improvements in the sintering effects. The favorable outcome ascertains PVA/HA biocomposite as a suitable material to be processed by SLS for TE scaffolds.