Abstract
Bone tissue engineering commonly encompasses the use of three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds to provide a suitable microenvironment for the propagation of cells to regenerate damaged tissues or organs. 3D printing technology has been extensively applied to allow direct 3D scaffolds manufacturing. Polycaprolactone (PCL) has been widely used in the fabrication of 3D scaffolds in the field of bone tissue engineering due to its advantages such as good biocompatibility, slow degradation rate, the less acidic breakdown products in comparison to other polyesters, and the potential for loadbearing applications. PCL can be blended with a variety of polymers and hydrogels to improve its properties or to introduce new PCL-based composites. This paper describes the PCL used in developing state of the art of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. In this review, we provide an overview of the 3D printing techniques for the fabrication of PCL-based composite scaffolds and recent studies on applications in different clinical situations. For instance, PCL-based composite scaffolds were used as an implant surgical guide in dental treatment. Furthermore, future trend and potential clinical translations will be discussed.
Highlights
The results showed a high level of angiogenesis in the interior the scaffold
Numbers of materials were utilized in the studies on PCL-based composite scaffolds, and composite scaffolds demonstrated superior performance to pure
Cells can be printed into the scaffolds by blending with hydrogel, which provides a compatible medium for cell proliferation
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The potential risks of tissue grafts including complications and secondary injuries remain a major clinical challenge [5,6]. To overcome this shortage, bone tissue engineering is one of the most proposing alternative methods. PCL is one of the most preferred polymers for extrusion-based 3D printing due to its melting temperature of 55–60 ◦ C [13] It exhibits good mechanical properties with high flexibility and great elongation, conducive to the preparation of scaffolds for craniofacial bone repair [9]. This review discusses and summarizes recent advancements in PCL-based composite scaffolds, focusing on the fabrication and functionalization methods and their application to promote bone growth in vitro and in vivo. The future trends and potential clinical translations will be discussed
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