PCL/nano-hardystonite electrospun nanofiber coating on cellulose nanocrystal-reinforced PLA 3D-printed dental implants

Abstract

In today’s world, surgeons increasingly use 3D printing as a valuable approach for dental and orthopedic treatments. Moreover, elevated temperatures in novel dentistry surgeries are applied to both the surface and interior of the tooth, potentially resulting in tooth thermal pain (TTP). A promising solution to this challenge is to coat the surface of the implant with nanofibers to modify its surface properties. In this study, a customized FDM 3D printer was utilized to fabricate a dental implant made out of polylactic acid, PLA reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) derived from cellulose, a carbohydrate polymer (polysaccharide), and then coated by poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/nano-hardystonite (nHT) composite nanofibers. The coated and uncoated samples were compared in terms of thermomechanical properties, including compressive and tensile strength, and heat transfer properties. These mechanical properties were also experimentally evaluated. Simulated body fluid (SBF) was used to evaluate the implant’s bioactivity. In order to analyze the nanofibers’ morphology and the creation of apatite layer on the surface of the samples, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images were utilized. This study introduces a novel synergistic approach combining CNC-reinforced PLA substrates with PCL/nHT nanofiber coatings to simultaneously enhance thermomechanical properties, thermal insulation, and bioactivity of 3D-printed dental implants. Overall, the findings of this research can lead to the enhancement in the modeling and manufacturing of dental implants.