title: Three-dimensional printed PCL-hydroxyapatite scaffolds filled with CNTs for bone cell growth stimulation.
abstract: A three-phase [nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA), carbon nanotubes (CNT), mixed in a polymeric matrix of polycaprolactone (PCL)] composite scaffold produced by 3D printing is presented. The CNT content varied between 0 and 10 wt % in a 50 wt % PCL matrix, with HA being the balance. With the combination of three well-known materials, these scaffolds aimed at bringing together the properties of all into a unique material to be used in tissue engineering as support for cell growth. The 3D printing technique allows producing composite scaffolds having an interconnected network of square pores in the range of 450-700 μm. The 2 wt % CNT scaffold offers the best combination of mechanical behaviour and electrical conductivity. Its compressive strength of ∼4 MPa is compatible with the trabecular bone. The composites show typical hydroxyapatite bioactivity, good cell adhesion and spreading at the scaffolds surface, this combination of properties indicating that the produced 3D, three-phase, scaffolds are promising materials in the field of bone regenerative medicine. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 1210-1219, 2016.
authors.affiliation: CICECO, Materials and Ceramic Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Elsa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: CICECO, Materials and Ceramic Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filipe J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: CICECO, Materials and Ceramic Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rui F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: CICECO, Materials and Ceramic Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Fac. Medicina Dentária, Laboratory for Bone Metabolism and Regeneration, Univ. do Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: M Helena
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: CICECO, Materials and Ceramic Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Bioinorgánica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Plaza de Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vallet-Regí
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Farmacia, Departamento de Química Inorgánica y Bioinorgánica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Plaza de Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.|TEMA-NRD, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vila
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D017886:Durapatite
keywords: 3D printing; electrical properties; functional composites; mechanical properties; nano composites