The effect of pore size and layout on mechanical and biological properties of 3D-printed bone scaffolds with gradient porosity

The design of porous gradient scaffolds for bone tissue engineering scaffolds is a relatively new approach. This strategy is based on imitating bone tissue in order to stimulate enhanced cellular responses. An additive manufacturing (AM) method, such as the fused filament fabrication (FFF) system, provides precise and repeatable pore size control. FFF is a well-known AM manufacturing process for producing high-quality parts at a low cost. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL) and variable hydroxyapatite (HA) amounts were fed into a FFF printer to print four scaffold designs with different porosity gradients. These porous gradient scaffolds were constructed using simple (Si) and shifting (Sh) models, with gradient pore diameters ranging from 400-600 to 400-800 mu m. The specimens featured thicker walls but more open cores. The scaffolds' structural, mechanical, and biological properties were evaluated. The results showed that higher gradient porosity and larger pore size led to better biological results, but lower mechanical strength resulted. Furthermore, adding HA increased mechanical strength from 81.8% to 100% and enhanced cellular response. In all scaffolds, an increase in porosity and a decrease in density led to a reduction in compressive strength. The toxicity of the samples and cellular adhesion was evaluated using MTT and DAPI tests on hFOB (human Fetal OsteoBlastic) cells. Alkaline phosphatase and Red Alizarin analyses demonstrated an increase in mineralization as HA content increased.