Alumina–Zirconia Composite Filaments for 3D‐Printed Scaffolds With Bioglass Infiltration for Medical Applications

Abstract Bone injuries often demand materials capable of promoting tissue repair, replacement, or regeneration. Ceramic scaffolds have emerged as promising alternatives due to their biocompatibility and structural versatility. This study reports the development of an alumina–zirconia composite scaffold (SC), fabricated by 3D printing and subsequently infiltrated with bioglass. Filaments were produced in a twin‐screw extruder by mixing ceramic powders with low‐density polyethylene (LDPE). After printing and sintering, scaffolds were infiltrated with bioglass and characterized by morphological and biological analyses. The processing steps generated structures with pore sizes between 500 µm and 1 mm, providing sufficient surface area for bioglass incorporation. Elemental analysis confirmed the presence of Si, Ca, and P in all samples. Biological tests revealed that scaffolds composed of alumina (SC/AL), zirconia (SC/ZR), and their combination (SC/AL/ZR), with or without bioglass (BG), showed no significant cytotoxicity in 3T3 fibroblasts or VERO cells after 72 h. Notably, the bioglass‐infiltrated alumina–zirconia scaffold (SC/AL/ZR/BG) promoted enhanced cell viability and proliferation at 72 h. Furthermore, it supported strong adhesion and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition after 5 days, indicating superior biocompatibility and potential osteoinductive activity. Overall, the alumina–zirconia scaffold with bioglass infiltration represents a robust, bioactive platform for bone tissue regeneration.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology
Published
2026-02-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/ijac.70158
Primary Topic
Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
Type
article
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article

Alumina–Zirconia Composite Filaments for 3D‐Printed Scaffolds With Bioglass Infiltration for Medical Applications

J. E. Zorzi, Jadna Catafesta, Maíra Faccio, Diêgo Pires Gurgel et al.
International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology
Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
article

Alumina–Zirconia Composite Filaments for 3D‐Printed Scaffolds With Bioglass Infiltration for Medical Applications

J. E. Zorzi, Jadna Catafesta, Maíra Faccio, Diêgo Pires Gurgel, Natália Fontana Nicoletti, Bruna Lins
article en

Abstract

Abstract Bone injuries often demand materials capable of promoting tissue repair, replacement, or regeneration. Ceramic scaffolds have emerged as promising alternatives due to their biocompatibility and structural versatility. This study reports the development of an alumina–zirconia composite scaffold (SC), fabricated by 3D printing and subsequently infiltrated with bioglass. Filaments were produced in a twin‐screw extruder by mixing ceramic powders with low‐density polyethylene (LDPE). After printing and sintering, scaffolds were infiltrated with bioglass and characterized by morphological and biological analyses. The processing steps generated structures with pore sizes between 500 µm and 1 mm, providing sufficient surface area for bioglass incorporation. Elemental analysis confirmed the presence of Si, Ca, and P in all samples. Biological tests revealed that scaffolds composed of alumina (SC/AL), zirconia (SC/ZR), and their combination (SC/AL/ZR), with or without bioglass (BG), showed no significant cytotoxicity in 3T3 fibroblasts or VERO cells after 72 h. Notably, the bioglass‐infiltrated alumina–zirconia scaffold (SC/AL/ZR/BG) promoted enhanced cell viability and proliferation at 72 h. Furthermore, it supported strong adhesion and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition after 5 days, indicating superior biocompatibility and potential osteoinductive activity. Overall, the alumina–zirconia scaffold with bioglass infiltration represents a robust, bioactive platform for bone tissue regeneration.

International Journal of Applied Ceramic TechnologyVol. 23(2)
Universidade de Caxias do Sul (BR), Instituto Federal Farroupilha (BR), Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 31%
Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
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