Abstract
Autologous cancellous-bone grafts are the current gold standard for therapeutic interventions in which bone-regeneration is desired. The main limitations of these implants are the need for a secondary surgical site, creating a wound on the patient, the limited availability of harvest-safe bone, and the lack of structural integrity of the grafts. Synthetic, resorbable, bone-regeneration materials could pose a viable treatment alternative, that could be implemented through 3D-printing. We present here the development of a polylactic acid-hydroxyapatite (PLA-HAp) composite that can be processed through a commercial-grade 3D-printer. We have shown that this material could be a viable option for the development of therapeutic implants for bone regeneration. Biocompatibility in vitro was demonstrated through cell viability studies using the osteoblastic MG63 cell-line, and we have also provided evidence that the presence of HAp in the polymer matrix enhances cell attachment and osteogenicity of the material. We have also provided guidelines for the optimal PLA-HAp ratio for this application, as well as further characterisation of the mechanical and thermal properties of the composite. This study encompasses the base for further research on the possibilities and safety of 3D-printable, polymer-based, resorbable composites for bone regeneration.
Highlights
Implants and grafts for surgical reconstruction of the skull vary widely in presentation and characteristics, which are in turn dependant of the clinical requirements of each individual patient, and on how the complex geometries of their cranial bones are affected [1,2,3]
We present here the development of a polylactic acid-hydroxyapatite (PLA-HAp) composite that can be processed through a commercial-grade 3D-printer
We present here a method for producing a PLA-HAp composite 3D-printing filament for the production of implantable, resorbable devices for bone regeneration in the context of maxillofacial reconstruction
Summary
Implants and grafts for surgical reconstruction of the skull vary widely in presentation and characteristics, which are in turn dependant of the clinical requirements of each individual patient, and on how the complex geometries of their cranial bones are affected [1,2,3]. Some common craniofacial bone defects, such as the alveolar defects on cleft lip and palate (CP) and incidents that warrant orbital floor reconstruction (OFR) pose unique challenges for the production of bone implants to meet their specific therapeutic goals, as well as to suit the irregular geometries and high variability between individual lesions in each case. Defects and fractures are further complicated in skull bones due to their overall thinness, size, closeness to neurovascular bundles, and inter-patient anatomic variability These challenges are currently met with standardised plates, screws, fixtures and other such devises which, though effective, have limitations that must be overcome with careful pre-operatory planning, and in-theatre adjustment of the devices. We selected the fore-mentioned applications of CP maxillary reconstruction, and OFR as their expected outcomes, possible complications, and relationship with
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