Development of Porous Photopolymer Resin-SWCNT Produced by Digital Light Processing Technology Using for Bone Femur Application

Background: Although bone tissue has the unique characteristic of self-repair in fractures, bone grafting is needed in somesituations. The synthetic substances that are used in such situations should bond to the porous bones, be biocompatibleand biodegradable, and do not stimulate the immune responses. Biomaterial engineering is the science of finding anddesigning novel products. In principle, the most suitable biodegradable matrix should have adequate compressive strengthof more than two megapascals. At this degradation rate, the matrix can eventually be replaced by the newly formed bone,and the osteoprogenitor cells migrate into the scaffold. This study aimed to evaluate the fabrication of a scaffold made ofpolymer-ceramic nanomaterials with controlled porosity resembling that of spongy bone tissue.Methods: A compound of resin polymer, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) as reinforcement, and hydroxyapatite(HA) were dissolved using an ultrasonic and magnetic stirrer. A bio-nano-composite scaffold model was designed in theSolidWorks software and built using the digital light processing (DLP) method. Polymer-HA scaffolds with the solvent systemwere prepared with similar porosity to that of human bones.Results: HA-polymer scaffolds had a random irregular microstructure with homogenizing porous architecture. The SWCNTimproved the mechanical properties of the sample from ۲۵ MPa to ۳۶ MPa besides having a proper porosity value near۵۵%, which can enhance the transformation and absorption of protein in human bone.Conclusion: The combined bio-nanocomposite had a suitable porous structure with acceptable strength that allowed it tobe used as a bone substitute in orthopedic surgery.

Keywords:

۳-D Printing , Biocompatible materials , carbon nanotubes , Hydroxyapatite , Tissue engineering