The design of 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA) morphology with coating of chitosan

Abstract

Bone implant biomaterials require surface morphology with a material content that facilitates osteointegration, thereby supporting cell proliferation and regeneration and avoiding inflammation due to bacterial activity. In this research, the surface morphology design was carried out in the form of pyramid, rhombicuboctahedron and icosahedron through 3D printing using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) method using PLA (Polylactide Acid) as the filament. Chitosan, which functions as an antibacterial, is used to coat the surface of the 3D printed PLA using dip-coating method with variations of 1%, 2%, 3%. The characterizations done are FTIR test, SEM test, porosity test, contact angle test, degradation test, and antibacterial test. FTIR test results showed the presence of chitosan clusters which are able to coat PLA samples successfully. SEM results showed the surface morphology before and after chitosan coating. The pyramid design has the pore size of 1,111 µm -1,334 µm which is compatible to the macropore size for bone reconstruction, with porosity values of 48% - 53% which also agrees to a bone porosity values. On 3% chitosan coating, it is hydrophilic with a contact angle of 20.15° which decreases immediately after, antibacterial test results showed an inhibition zone of 2.48 mm. The degradation test results prove the sample still survives until the 4th week with a mass reduction of 2.2%.