title: Selective laser sintering of porous tissue engineering scaffolds from poly(L: -lactide)/carbonated hydroxyapatite nanocomposite microspheres.
abstract: This study focuses on the use of bio-nanocomposite microspheres, consisting of carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHAp) nanospheres within a poly(L: -lactide) (PLLA) matrix, to produce tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds using a modified selective laser sintering (SLS) machine. PLLA microspheres and PLLA/CHAp nanocomposite microspheres were prepared by emulsion techniques. The resultant microspheres had a size range of 5-30 microm, suitable for the SLS process. Microstructural analyses revealed that the CHAp nanospheres were embedded throughout the PLLA microsphere, forming a nanocomposite structure. A custom-made miniature sintering platform was installed in a commercial Sinterstation((R)) 2000 SLS machine. This platform allowed the use of small quantities of biomaterials for TE scaffold production. The effects of laser power; scan spacing and part bed temperature were investigated and optimized. Finally, porous scaffolds were successfully fabricated from the PLLA microspheres and PLLA/CHAp nanocomposite microspheres. In particular, the PLLA/CHAp nanocomposite microspheres appeared to be promising for porous bone TE scaffold production using the SLS technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Wen You
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Siu Hang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wai Lam
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Wing Yuk
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ip
mesh_terms: D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007834:Lasers; D008422:Materials Testing; D008863:Microspheres; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)