title: Effects of poly (ε-caprolactone) coating on the properties of three-dimensional printed porous structures.
abstract: Powder-based inkjet three-dimensional printing (3DP) to fabricate pre-designed 3D structures has drawn increasing attention. However there are intrinsic limitations associated with 3DP technology due to the weak bonding within the printed structure, which significantly compromises its mechanical integrity. In this study, calcium sulphate ceramic structures demonstrating a porous architecture were manufactured using 3DP technology and subsequently post-processed with a poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) coating. PCL concentration, immersion time, and number of coating layers were the principal parameters investigated and improvement in compressive properties was the measure of success. Interparticle spacing within the 3DP structures were successfully filled with PCL material. Consequently the compressive properties, wettability, morphology, and in vitro resorption behaviour of 3DP components were significantly augmented. The average compressive strength, Young׳s modulus, and toughness increased 217%, 250%, and 315%, following PCL coating. Addition of a PCL surface coating provided long-term structural support to the host ceramic material, extending the resorption period from less than 7 days to a minimum of 56 days. This study has demonstrated that application of a PCL coating onto a ceramic 3DP structure was a highly effective approach to addressing some of the limitations of 3DP manufacturing and allows this advanced technology to be potentially used in a wider range of applications.
authors.affiliation: Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick, CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Zuoxin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: Eoin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Queen׳s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
authors.forename: Helen O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK.
authors.forename: Fraser
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Queen׳s University of Belfast, Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University of Belfast, BT9 5AH, UK; School of Pharmacy, Queen׳s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Republic of Ireland. Electronic address: nicholas.dunne@dcu.ie.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dunne
mesh_terms: D019245:Compressive Strength; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008422:Materials Testing; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone
keywords: Bioresorption; Calcium sulphate; Mechanical properties; Poly (ε-caprolactone); Three-dimensional printing (3DP); Tissue engineering