Abstract
Significant efforts have been made to treat bone disorders through the development of composite scaffolds utilizing calcium phosphate (CaP) through additive manufacturing techniques. However, the incorporation of natural polymers with CaP during 3D printing is difficult and remains a formidable challenge in bone and tissue engineering applications. The objective of this study is to understand the use of a natural polymer binder system in ceramic composite scaffolds using a ceramic slurry-based solid freeform fabricator (SFF). This was achieved through the utilization of naturally sourced gelatinized starch with hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramic in order to obtain high mechanical strength and enhanced biological properties of the green part without the need for cross-linking or post processing. The parametric effects of solids loading, polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer addition, and designed porosity on starch-HA composite scaffolds were assessed through mechanical strength, microstructure, and in vitro biocompatibility utilizing human osteoblast cells. It was hypothesized that starch incorporation would improve the mechanical strength of the scaffolds and increase proliferation of osteoblast cells in vitro. Starch loading was shown to improve mechanical strength from 4.07 ± 0.66 MPa to 10.35 ± 1.10 MPa, more closely resembling the mechanical strength of cancellous bone. Based on these results, a reinforcing mechanism of gelatinized starch based on interparticle and apatite crystal interlocking is proposed. Morphological characterization utilizing FESEM and MTT cell viability assay showed enhanced osteoblast cell proliferation in the presence of starch and PCL. Overall, the utilization of starch as a natural binder system in SFF scaffolds was found to improve both green strength and in vitro biocompatibility.