Improving the surface hydrophilicity and performance of 3D printed PCL/β-TCP mesh support by sodium hydroxide alkali etching method / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

【Objective】 To solve the problem of insufficient hydrophilicity on the surface of polycaprolactone (PCL)/β-TCP bone tissue engineering scaffolds, NaOH etching method was used to improve the surface microstructure of 3D printed PCL/β-TCP scaffolds, further affecting their hydrophilicity and cell response. 【Methods】 PCL/β-TCP mesh scaffolds were prepared using 3D printing melt deposition molding technology, and the surface roughness of the scaffolds was modified by NaOH etching. The effects of two reaction parameters, NaOH concentration and time, on the microstructure, spectral elements, contact angle, compressive strength, and cell adhesion of the scaffolds before and after modification were observed. 【Results】 After NaOH etching, the surface microporous structure of the mesh scaffold was successfully prepared. With the increase of either NaOH concentration or time, the surface micropores of the scaffold increased while the contact angle of the material surface decreased. However, the compression strength of the etched scaffold treated with NaOH for 1 mol/L (24 h) or 10 mol/L (6 h) was not statistically significant compared to the untreated group (P>0.05). The number of cells on the etched scaffold increased, with a larger spreading area of individual cells, making it more advantageous in the adhesion and proliferation of BMSCs. 【Conclusion】 The use of NaOH etching to improve the hydrophilicity of 3D printed PCL/β-TCP bone tissue engineering scaffolds is a low-cost and effective strategy which can effectively improve the wettability and cell adhesion of the scaffolds.