Modification of 3D Printed Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol Scaffold Coated with Chitosan for Bone Tissue Engineering
摘要
Bone tissue engineering uses 3D printing to create scaffolds, addressing the high demand for bone grafting. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is the 3D printing method which allows precise fabrication of scaffolds with materials like Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG), though PETG is hydrophobic and has smooth surface which limits cell attachment. To enhance cell growth, PETG scaffolds were modified by coating with different concentration of hydrophilic chitosan (CS) (0.1wt%, 0.15wt%,0.2wt% and 0.25 wt%) through dip coating and freeze-drying methods. The modified scaffolds were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Water Contact Angle (WCA), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and biomineralization testing by Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution. Observation through SEM revealed that CS coating created a rougher surface, improving cell attachment. Besides, the hydrophilicity of the scaffolds increased with the increasing of CS concentrations, overcoming PETG’s hydrophobicity properties. PETG scaffold demonstrated 97.0º of contact angle whilst PETG+0.25wt% showed 29.4° of contact angle. The integration of chitosan with PETG was clearly observed in the FTIR analysis. New peaks from chitosan, such as broad O-H and N-H stretching at 3400-3500 cm⁻1 and the distinctive amide bands, confirm successful coating of CS. In biomineralization testing, CS-coated scaffolds exhibited significant apatite formation, indicating good mineralization and potential for bone tissue engineering. This research highlights the potential of chitosan-coated PETG scaffolds for advancing bone tissue regeneration.