Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites
Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has become a popular tool to produce complex structures. It has great potential in the regenerative medicine field to produce customizable and reproducible scaffolds with high control of dimensions and porosity. This study was focused on the investigation o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/18/2518 |
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| author | Magda Silva Susana Gomes Cátia Correia Daniela Peixoto Adriana Vinhas Márcia T. Rodrigues Manuela E. Gomes José A. Covas Maria C. Paiva Natália M. Alves |
| author_facet | Magda Silva Susana Gomes Cátia Correia Daniela Peixoto Adriana Vinhas Márcia T. Rodrigues Manuela E. Gomes José A. Covas Maria C. Paiva Natália M. Alves |
| author_sort | Magda Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has become a popular tool to produce complex structures. It has great potential in the regenerative medicine field to produce customizable and reproducible scaffolds with high control of dimensions and porosity. This study was focused on the investigation of new biocompatible and biodegradable 3D-printed scaffolds with suitable mechanical properties to assist tendon and ligament regeneration. Polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds were reinforced with 0.5 wt.% of functionalized graphite nanoplatelets decorated with silver nanoparticles ((f-EG)+Ag). The functionalization of graphene was carried out to strengthen the interface with the polymer. (f-EG)+Ag exhibited antibacterial properties against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) and <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>), an important feature for the healing process and prevention of bacterial infections. The scaffolds’ structure, biodegradation, and mechanical properties were assessed to confirm their suitability for tendon and ligamentregeneration. All scaffolds exhibited surface nanoroughness created during printing, which was increased by the filler presence. The wet state dynamic mechanical analysis proved that the incorporation of reinforcement led to an increase in the storage modulus, compared with neat PLA. The cytotoxicity assays using L929 fibroblasts showed that the scaffolds were biocompatible. The PLA+[(f-EG)+Ag] scaffolds were also loaded with human tendon-derived cells and showed their capability to maintain the tenogenic commitment with an increase in the gene expression of specific tendon/ligament-related markers. The results demonstrate the potential application of these new 3D-printed nanocomposite scaffolds for tendon and ligament regeneration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:22:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af4e4a4c3af64ba99cb146030b1f6955 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:22:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-af4e4a4c3af64ba99cb146030b1f69552023-11-19T12:14:06ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912023-09-011318251810.3390/nano13182518Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet CompositesMagda Silva0Susana Gomes1Cátia Correia2Daniela Peixoto3Adriana Vinhas4Márcia T. Rodrigues5Manuela E. Gomes6José A. Covas7Maria C. Paiva8Natália M. Alves93B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Avepark, 4805-017 Guimarães, PortugalDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Institute for Polymers and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Avepark, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Avepark, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Avepark, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Avepark, 4805-017 Guimarães, Portugal3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Avepark, 4805-017 Guimarães, PortugalDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Institute for Polymers and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalDepartment of Polymer Engineering, Institute for Polymers and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Avepark, 4805-017 Guimarães, PortugalThree-dimensional (3D) printing technology has become a popular tool to produce complex structures. It has great potential in the regenerative medicine field to produce customizable and reproducible scaffolds with high control of dimensions and porosity. This study was focused on the investigation of new biocompatible and biodegradable 3D-printed scaffolds with suitable mechanical properties to assist tendon and ligament regeneration. Polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds were reinforced with 0.5 wt.% of functionalized graphite nanoplatelets decorated with silver nanoparticles ((f-EG)+Ag). The functionalization of graphene was carried out to strengthen the interface with the polymer. (f-EG)+Ag exhibited antibacterial properties against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) and <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>), an important feature for the healing process and prevention of bacterial infections. The scaffolds’ structure, biodegradation, and mechanical properties were assessed to confirm their suitability for tendon and ligamentregeneration. All scaffolds exhibited surface nanoroughness created during printing, which was increased by the filler presence. The wet state dynamic mechanical analysis proved that the incorporation of reinforcement led to an increase in the storage modulus, compared with neat PLA. The cytotoxicity assays using L929 fibroblasts showed that the scaffolds were biocompatible. The PLA+[(f-EG)+Ag] scaffolds were also loaded with human tendon-derived cells and showed their capability to maintain the tenogenic commitment with an increase in the gene expression of specific tendon/ligament-related markers. The results demonstrate the potential application of these new 3D-printed nanocomposite scaffolds for tendon and ligament regeneration.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/18/25183D printingfunctionalized graphite nanoplateletsPLAcompositesligamentstendons |
| spellingShingle | Magda Silva Susana Gomes Cátia Correia Daniela Peixoto Adriana Vinhas Márcia T. Rodrigues Manuela E. Gomes José A. Covas Maria C. Paiva Natália M. Alves Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites Nanomaterials 3D printing functionalized graphite nanoplatelets PLA composites ligaments tendons |
| title | Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites |
| title_full | Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites |
| title_fullStr | Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites |
| title_short | Biocompatible 3D-Printed Tendon/Ligament Scaffolds Based on Polylactic Acid/Graphite Nanoplatelet Composites |
| title_sort | biocompatible 3d printed tendon ligament scaffolds based on polylactic acid graphite nanoplatelet composites |
| topic | 3D printing functionalized graphite nanoplatelets PLA composites ligaments tendons |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/13/18/2518 |
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