title: Fabrication and characterization of three-dimensional poly(ether- ether- ketone)/-hydroxyapatite biocomposite scaffolds using laser sintering.
abstract: The ability to have precise control over porosity, scaffold shape, and internal pore architecture is critical in tissue engineering. For anchorage-dependent cells, the presence of three-dimensional scaffolds with interconnected pore networks is crucial to aid in the proliferation and reorganization of cells. This research explored the potential of rapid prototyping techniques such as selective laser sintering to fabricate solvent-free porous composite polymeric scaffolds comprising of different blends of poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) and hydroxyapatite (HA). The architecture of the scaffolds was created with a scaffold library of cellular units and a corresponding algorithm to generate the structure. Test specimens were produced and characterized by varying the weight percentage, starting with 10 wt% HA to 40 wt% HA, of physically mixed PEEK-HA powder blends. Characterization analyses including porosity, microstructure, composition of the scaffolds, bioactivity, and in vitro cell viability of the scaffolds were conducted. The results obtained showed a promising approach in fabricating scaffolds which can produce controlled microarchitecture and higher consistency.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Naing
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cheah
mesh_terms: D001577:Benzophenones; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017886:Durapatite / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007659:Ketones / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D008422:Materials Testing; D044367:Phase Transition; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D001577:Benzophenones; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D007659:Ketones; D011108:Polymers; C063834:polyetheretherketone; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017886:Durapatite