title: Direct ink writing of silica-bonded calcite scaffolds from preceramic polymers and fillers.
abstract: Silica-bonded calcite scaffolds have been successfully 3D-printed by direct ink writing, starting from a paste comprising a silicone polymer and calcite powders, calibrated in order to match a SiO2/CaCO3weight balance of 35/65. The scaffolds, fabricated with two slightly different geometries, were first cross-linked at 350 °C, then fired at 600 °C, in air. The low temperature adopted for the conversion of the polymer into amorphous silica, by thermo-oxidative decomposition, prevented the decomposition of calcite. The obtained silica-bonded calcite scaffolds featured open porosity of about 56%-64% and compressive strength of about 2.9-5.5 MPa, depending on the geometry. Dissolution studies in SBF and preliminary cell culture tests, with bone marrow stromal cells, confirmed the in vitro bioactivity of the scaffolds and their biocompatibility. The seeded cells were found to be alive, well anchored and spread on the samples surface. The new silica-calcite composites are expected to be suitable candidates as tissue-engineering 3D scaffolds for regeneration of cancellous bone defects.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9, I-35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiocco
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elsayed
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Badocco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellucci
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cannillo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Detsch
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Boccaccini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019245:Compressive Strength; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007281:Ink; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D002119:Calcium Carbonate