Material Extrusion of the Poly(lactic acid)/HAp Nanocomposite Scaffold for Bone Tissue Applications: A Comprehensive Investigation

The material extrusion of biodegradable composite scaffolds has emerged as an alternative for addressing the existing challenges associated with bone regeneration. The present study aims to fabricate a 3D-printed bioscaffold to facilitate bone regeneration by interacting with the local extracellular matrix and providing load-bearing capability. Hence, a biodegradable PLA blended with hydroxyapatite (HAp) bioceramic material has been utilized for providing essential properties for bone regeneration applications. The various PLA/HAp blend filaments were fabricated at multiple blending ratios (94/6, 88/12, and 82/18) to examine the most appropriate blend ratio for providing the intended applications. EDAX analysis has been utilized to evaluate the elemental composition of PLA nanocomposites. The intermolecular interaction and degradation temperature (T_d) of 3D-printed blended polymer materials have been assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties of the neat PLA and PLA/HAp blend polymer composite samples were analyzed through experimental testing, including tensile, compression, and flexural testing. It was concluded that the 12 wt % HAp blend with PLA polymer composite samples demonstrated great mechanical performance and interfacial strength characteristics. The tensile, flexural, and compression properties of PLA/12 wt % HAp were increased by 15.1, 10.05, and 13.19%, respectively, compared with neat PLA. The blended filament and fractography samples were analyzed by field emission scanning electron spectroscopy (FESEM).