Material Extrusion of the Poly(lactic acid)/HAp Nanocomposite Scaffold for Bone Tissue Applications: A Comprehensive Investigation

The material extrusion of biodegradable composite scaffolds has emerged as an alternative for addressing the existing challenges associated with bone regeneration. The present study aims to fabricate a 3D-printed bioscaffold to facilitate bone regeneration by interacting with the local extracellular matrix and providing load-bearing capability. Hence, a biodegradable PLA blended with hydroxyapatite (HAp) bioceramic material has been utilized for providing essential properties for bone regeneration applications. The various PLA/HAp blend filaments were fabricated at multiple blending ratios (94/6, 88/12, and 82/18) to examine the most appropriate blend ratio for providing the intended applications. EDAX analysis has been utilized to evaluate the elemental composition of PLA nanocomposites. The intermolecular interaction and degradation temperature (<i>T</i> _d) of 3D-printed blended polymer materials have been assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties of the neat PLA and PLA/HAp blend polymer composite samples were analyzed through experimental testing, including tensile, compression, and flexural testing. It was concluded that the 12 wt % HAp blend with PLA polymer composite samples demonstrated great mechanical performance and interfacial strength characteristics. The tensile, flexural, and compression properties of PLA/12 wt % HAp were increased by 15.1, 10.05, and 13.19%, respectively, compared with neat PLA. The blended filament and fractography samples were analyzed by field emission scanning electron spectroscopy (FESEM).