Batio₃-Modified Piezoelectric 3D-Printed Pcl/Β-Tcp Scaffolds For Osteogenesis

To develop and evaluate 3D-printed polycaprolactone/β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds modified with barium titanate (BaTiO₃) for improved piezoelectric and osteogenic performance in bone regeneration. Polycaprolactone (PCL), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and barium titanate (BaTiO₃) nanoparticles were used to fabricate composite scaffolds with varying BaTiO₃ mass ratios (1%, 2%, 4%, 8%) via 3D printing. Scaffolds were characterized using SEM, FTIR, XRD, and XPS. Piezoelectric properties were evaluated through amplitude-phase response and atomic force microscopy. Mechanical performance was assessed by compressive modulus and strength tests. Cytocompatibility was investigated using MC3T3-E1 cells with CCK-8 assays and Calcein-AM live/dead staining. All scaffolds exhibited uniform porous structures and successful BaTiO₃ incorporation, as confirmed by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and XPS analyses. Piezoelectric measurements showed that the piezoelectric response increased with BaTiO₃ content, with PTB4 displaying the most stable amplitude-phase behavior. Mechanical testing indicated that PTB4 achieved the highest compressive modulus and strength among all groups. CCK-8 and Calcein-AM staining demonstrated that PTB4 significantly promoted MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and adhesion, indicating excellent cytocompatibility. The 3D-printed PCL/β-TCP/BaTiO₃ (PTB) scaffolds demonstrated favorable piezoelectric, mechanical, and biological properties. Among them, the PTB4 scaffold (containing 4 wt% BaTiO₃) showed the best overall performance, suggesting its strong potential for application in large bone defect repair.