OBJECTIVETo fabricate organic-inorganic composite tissue engineering scaffolds for reconstructing calcified cartilage layer based on three-dimensional (3D) printing technique.

METHODSThe scaffolds were developed by 3D-printing technique with highly bioactive calcium-magnesium silicate ultrafine particles of 1%, 3% and 5% of mass fraction, in which the organic phases were composed of type I collagen and sodium hyaluronate. The 3D-printed scaffolds were then crosslinked and solidified by alginate and CaCl₂ aerosol. The pore size and distribution of inorganic phase were observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM); the mechanical properties were tested with universal material testing machine, and the porosity of scaffolds was also measured.

RESULTSPore size was approximately (212.3 ± 34.2) μm with a porosity of (48.3 ± 5.9)%, the compressive modulus of the scaffolds was (7.2 ± 1.2) MPa, which was irrelevant to the percentage changes of calcium-magnesium silicate, the compressive modulus was between that of cartilage and subchondral bone.

CONCLUSIONThe porous scaffolds for calcified cartilage layer have been successfully fabricated, which would be used for multi-layered composite scaffolds in osteochondral injury.

Bioprinting ; Cartilage ; growth & development ; Materials Testing ; Porosity ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry