Fabrication of PCL/[beta]-TCP scaffolds by 3D mini-screw extrusion printing

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 133; no. 15
• Main Authors: Davila, J L, Freitas, M S, Inforcatti Neto, P, Silveira, Z C, Silva, J V L, d'Avila, M A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 15.04.2016
• Subjects: Materials science; Polymers
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.43031

Scaffolds of polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL composites reinforced with [beta]-tricalcium phosphate ([beta]-TCP) were manufactured aiming potential tissue engineering applications. They were fabricated using a three-dimensional (3D) mini-screw extrusion printing, a novel additive manufacturing process, which consists in an extrusion head coupled to a 3D printer based on the Fab@Home equipment. Thermal properties were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses. Scaffolds morphology were observed using scanning electron microscopy and computed microtomography; also, reinforcement presence was observed by X-ray diffraction and the polymer chemical structure by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Mechanical properties under compression were obtained by using a universal testing machine and hydrophilic properties were studied by measuring the contact angle of water drops. Finally, scaffolds with 55% of porosity and a pore size of 450 µm have shown promising mechanical properties; the [beta]-TCP reinforcement improved mechanical and hydrophilic behavior in comparison with PCL scaffolds. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43031.