Development and characterization of PLA/PBS biocomposites with demineralized bone powder and its application in bone tissue engineering via 3D printing

Abstract

Bone tissue has the intrinsic ability to regenerate its architecture and function after an injury. However, this capacity is limited, and after a certain critical stage, it requires surgical interventions. Some techniques include using metallic materials, such as stainless steel and titanium, in the form of pins and plates, to restore the fractured tissue. However, factors such as long surgical processes and lengthy recovery represent the disadvantages of this application. In this sense, tissue engineering emerges, a multidisciplinary area between Biology and Engineering that aims at the development of biocompatible functional substitutes for bone tissue regeneration, called scaffolds, which can be made from polymeric matrix biocomposites with bioactive fillers and using additive manufacturing/3D printing. The most used polymer in biomedical applications is poly (lactic acid) (PLA); however, it has reduced bioactivity and biodegradability, limiting its application area. The formation of blends using poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) has been extensively studied. It has already proven to be very efficient in overcoming some negative points of PLA, such as its low biodegradability. Furthermore, adding bioactive fillers, such as demineralized bone powder (POD), increases the bioactivity of the developed material. Thus, this project will study the development of different blends and biocomposites using PLA, PBS and POD,. Analysis of mechanical, biological and rheological properties of biocomposites from PLA/PBS blends with the addition of POD, in order to determine compositions to apply in the production of scaffolds via additive manufacturing, aiming at the development of bone substitutes.