Investigating the influence of sol-gel bioactive glass 92S6 P123 on 3D-Printed scaffold fabrication

Abstract

Additive manufacturing techniques for scaffold fabrication have shown remarkable potential in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this study, a novel approach involving a composite material consisting of an association of sol-gel bioactive glass, 92S6 P123, with polylactic acid (PLA) was explored to create intricate three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds. The main objective was to analyze the impact of incorporating bioactive glass 92S6 P123 on the properties of 3D-printed scaffolds, subsequently optimizing the architectural design (grid versus gyroid), pore size, and porosity to obtain the best compromise between mechanical properties and porosity. The selected scaffold architecture, the gyroid, exhibits morphological features reminiscent of cancellous bone; this structure was carefully tailored to promote mechanical support and facilitate cell proliferation.

This study sheds light on the significance of incorporating bioactive glass 92S6 P123 into 3D-printed scaffolds. Moreover, the tailored scaffold architecture exhibited promising results in terms of the mechanical stability and cellular invasion. This study contributes to the evolving field of scaffold design for tissue engineering applications, offering insights into the interplay between scaffold composition, architecture, and in vivo performance. The knowledge gained from this study holds implications for the development of advanced regenerative therapies and implantable constructs in orthopaedic and tissue engineering disciplines.