3D-printed biomimetic bone implant polymeric composite scaffolds

This research introduced a new poly-ether-ether-ketone calcium hydroxyapatite (PEEK-cHAp) composite for a convenient, fast and inexpensive femur bone-implant scaffold with different lattice structures to mimic natural bone structure. Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) was used to print a hybrid PEEK-based filament-bearing bioactive material suited for developing cHAp. Using FDM, the same bone scaffold PEEK will be fabricated, depending on the shape of the bone fracture. The scaffolds were examined for in-vitro bioactivity by immersing them in a simulated bodily fluid (SBF) solution. Furthermore, in-vitro cytotoxicity tests validated the suitability of the composite materials employed to create minimal toxicity of the scaffolds. After spreading PEEK nanoparticles in the grains, the suggested spherical nanoparticles cell expanded over time. The motif affected the microstructure of PEEK-cHAp in terms of grain size and 3D shape. The results established the proposed optimum design and suitable material for prospective bone implants, as required for biomimetic artificial bone regeneration and healing.