In-vitro evaluation of Polylactic acid (PLA) manufactured by fused deposition modeling

Matthias C Wurm,Dominik Rietzel,Tobias Möst,Sandra C Cifuentes,Friedrich Wilhelm Neukam,Cornelius Von Wilmowsky,Bastian Bergauer

doi:10.1186/s13036-017-0073-4

Matthias C Wurm, Dominik Rietzel + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-017-0073-4

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Abstract

BackgroundWith additive manufacturing (AM) individual and biocompatible implants can be generated by using suitable materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological effects of polylactic acid (PLA) manufactured by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) on osteoblasts in vitro according to European Norm / International Organization for Standardization 10,993–5.MethodHuman osteoblasts (hFOB 1.19) were seeded onto PLA samples produced by FDM and investigated for cell viability by fluorescence staining after 24 h. Cell proliferation was measured after 1, 3, 7 and 10 days by cell-counting and cell morphology was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. For control, we used titanium samples and polystyrene (PS).ResultsCell viability showed higher viability on PLA (95,3% ± 2.1%) than in control (91,7% ±2,7%). Cell proliferation was highest in the control group (polystyrene) and higher on PLA samples compared to the titanium samples.Scanning electron microscopy revealed homogenous covering of sample surface with regularly spread cells on PLA as well as on titanium.ConclusionThe manufacturing of PLA discs from polylactic acid using FDM was successful. The in vitro investigation with human fetal osteoblasts showed no cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, FDM does not seem to alter biocompatibility of PLA. Nonetheless osteoblasts showed reduced growth on PLA compared to the polystyrene control within the cell experiments. This could be attributed to surface roughness and possible release of residual monomers. Those influences could be investigated in further studies and thus lead to improvement in the additive manufacturing process. In addition, further research focused on the effect of PLA on bone growth should follow.In summary, PLA processed in Fused Deposition Modelling seems to be an attractive material and method for reconstructive surgery because of their biocompatibility and the possibility to produce individually shaped scaffolds.

Highlights

With additive manufacturing (AM) individual and biocompatible implants can be generated by using suitable materials
Cell proliferation was highest in the control group and higher on polylactic acid (PLA) samples compared to the titanium samples
Osteoblasts showed reduced growth on PLA compared to the polystyrene control within the cell experiments

Summary

Introduction

With additive manufacturing (AM) individual and biocompatible implants can be generated by using suitable materials. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological effects of polylactic acid (PLA) manufactured by Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) on osteoblasts in vitro according to European Norm / International Organization for Standardization 10,993–5. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a promising thermoplastic polymer to be used as a new material in additive manufacturing. Nowadays it is used for osteosynthesis and its characteristics have been considered as an ideal biomaterial for load bearing applications [2]. Besides well controllable degradation timescales and a manufacturing process that allows almost any imaginable shape, PLA offers excellent biocompatibility [5]

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