EUROPEAN CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION ON ADVANCED MATERIALS AND PROCESSES - EUROMAT 2021

Long lasting regeneration of extensive and severe traumas and related damages to anatomically complex osteochondral region is still a challenging goal to reach by tissue engineering. The request for materials able not only to fit the anatomical site but also to fulfill the requirements in terms of physic-chemical and mechanical properties, properly supporting the attachment, growth and spread of cells together with leading their differentiation, has not yet been satisfied. In this work, we focused on the realization of a bioinspired, biomimetic and resorbable hybrid-hydroxyapatite (hHA) based ink for 3D printing of osteo-inductive three-dimensional scaffolds. We started from the synthesis and characterization of the hHA together with the formulation of the most suitable polymer matrix. hHA was proven to closely resemble all the features of the biological synthetized hydroxyapatite. Rheological behavior and printability of the so obtained composite were assessed, and the ink optimized to realize 3D printed scaffolds with a duly designed morphology. The omogeneous presence of hHA within the ink and the 3D printed scaffolds was proven and good printability and reproducibility of the printing process were obtained. A study to determine the best crosslinking method was performed and the physic-chemical and mechanical performances of the scaffolds evaluated. As last, cells behavior in terms of attachment, growth and spreading, morphology and differentiation within the scaffolds was appraised.